Best-selling authors Veronica Roth and Garth Nix must be doing something right. Both are internationally recognized for their young adult fantasy novels — Roth’s first book, “Divergent,” sold more than 20 million copies and was made into a hit movie starring Shailene Woodley and Kate Winslet; Nix’s works, such as “Lirael” and “Sabriel,” have been translated into 40 languages and have been inspiring young readers around the globe. They will be making a joint appearance for a Tribune Printers Row Journal event in Chicago on Oct. 20 to discuss their latest works: “Four: A Divergent Collection” for Roth (Katherine Tegen Books); “Clariel” (Harper Collins) for Nix.
The following is an edited version of a longer phone conversation.
Q: Do you stay on top of headlines and use some of those in your writing?
Roth: I do pay attention to the headlines, but I don’t draw from current events in a conscious or intentional way because I find that the distance of something that has happened helps me a lot. But I do take in my news in a typical way for my generation, which is via Twitter because it’s so immediate. The articles are so abundant and you get such an interesting mix of points of view if you follow a wide variety of people. …. So much of writing involves absorbing the people around you, otherwise you won’t have enough richness or complexity in your own work. I love the Wikipedia link chain because it has led me into some strange articles. Wikipedia is one of my favorites.
Nix: Everything around you is raw material. I certainly draw upon things that have happened in terms of history — sometimes going way back and sometimes contemporary things. All the things I read and see and the things I’ve experienced myself all goes into that reservoir in your head, and you draw from that later on. I look at the online versions of an Australian, a British and an American newspaper pretty much every day. You never know what will provoke an idea that can be transformed into fiction. And I like Twitter as well. What other people find in Twitter are often articles I would never find myself.
Q: Veronica, do you and Kate Winslet “do lunch”?
Roth: Uh, no. I mean she surprised me in how incredibly lovely and warm she was, because I think if I were in her position I would become very cold and guarded because everyone always wants something from her. She’s so funny and very kind. She’s great. But we don’t hang out. We’ve only met a couple times.
Q: What book is on your nightstand or e-reader right now?
Roth: I’m rereading “Lirael,” actually. I don’t want to embarrass Garth here, but I read the books multiple times years ago and I figured this was a good excuse to read them again.
Nix: I’m actually reading “P.G. Wodehouse: A Life in Letters,” edited by (Sophie) Ratcliffe. I do love authors’ letters. Of course, classically, they’re about how much they got paid for stories, and there are many letters about rotten agents and problems with publishers, and there’s also good things as well.
Q: Are you both writing new books now?
Roth: Yes.
Nix: Yes, always writing.
Q: Garth, you’ve said “Sabriel” had been in movie talks. How are they going?
Nix: There’s nothing concrete. It’s been in a state of flux for quite a few years, sort of coming and going, without anyone actually ever essentially putting the money on the table at the end to actually make the films. I trained as a screenwriter — that was my college degree, I majored in screenwriting, and I love film and television — but you can’t do everything. But you never know. There’s always lots of interest, and I hope one day there will be interest from people who can actually make things happen.
Q: Have either of you had a mystical experience happen to you that you can’t explain?
Roth: I’m a fairly religious person, so I believe in some things that sound a little crazy I’m sure, depending on where you’re standing. I believe in leaving room for things that you can’t explain in the universe, and you don’t have to be religious to leave room for those things. I try to leave some space in my mind for things to surprise me or change my mind, I think that’s important. But I haven’t had, like, a crazy futurist prediction or psychic experience. I have had times when I feel like things are going according to some sort of plan and that I had no influence over it.
Nix: I think having an open mind about these things is probably the most important thing, because even though I’ve never had an experience of the supernatural, something I couldn’t explain — although I’ve told stories that I have — I certainly have had experiences of a sense of wonder at the world and a feeling that even though it could all be explained rationally, it still feels that there is more to it. And I think that is an amazing thing.
Twitter @jenweigel
