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Live Chat with Debut Author M. D. Waters

Also available,  Nora’s podcast interview with M.D. Waters, author of Archetype.

Click here to find out more about the book and to sign up for the program.

 Live Chat with M.D. Waters, ARCHETYPE(11/13/2013) 
3:43
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We will begin our live online chat with Misty Waters, author of Archetype in about 15 minutes.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:43 Nora - EarlyWord
3:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Meanwhile, here’s the cover of the book and a link to my recent podcast interview with Misty.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:44 Nora - EarlyWord
3:44
 Nora - EarlyWord
ARCHETYPE U.S. Cover
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:44 
3:53
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I'm appy to see chat participants beginning to gather. You can send your questions through at any time. They'll go into a queue, and we'll submit as many of them as we can to Misty before the end of the chat. Don’t worry about typos – and please forgive any that we commit.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:53 Nora - EarlyWord
3:54
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Ooops -- first person to catch my typo wins a prize!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:54 Nora - EarlyWord
3:55
[Comment From MelMel: ] 
Missing the H in happy. ;)
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:55 Mel
3:56
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You got it Mel -- give that person a ti-shirt!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:56 Nora - EarlyWord
3:56
 Nora - EarlyWord
Read the book, wear the Tee
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:56 
3:56
[Comment From CharissaCharissa: ] 
MELINDA. I am so jealous.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:56 Charissa
3:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Well, don't be -- YOU get a tattoo...
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:57 Nora - EarlyWord
3:57
 Nora - EarlyWord
Get the Tatt...
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:57 
3:57
[Comment From MelMel: ] 
LOL, Charissa. YAY!!!!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:57 Mel
3:59
M.D. Waters: 
Hi everyone!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 3:59 M.D. Waters
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hi Misty, thanks for joining us. We have an eager group gathering. I’ll let them say hi.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:00
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see you out there -- say hi to Misty.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:00 Nora - EarlyWord
4:01
[Comment From Susan J.%20BickfordSusan J.%20Bickford: ] 
Hey there, Misty!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:01 Susan J.%20Bickford
4:01
[Comment From charissaweakscharissaweaks: ] 
Hi, honey :)
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:01 charissaweaks
4:01
Catherine - Penguin: 
Hi Misty! thanks so much for joining us!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:01 Catherine - Penguin
4:01
[Comment From MelMel: ] 
Hi Misty!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:01 Mel
4:01
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We received some questions in advance. This one is a good place to begin:

Q: I see you went to Comic Con. But your book isn’t a comic! Why did you go?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:01 Nora - EarlyWord
4:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hi Misty, thanks for joining us. We have an eager group gathering. I’ll let them say hi.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:02 Nora - EarlyWord
4:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Hi Misty, thanks for joining us. We have an eager group gathering. I’ll let them say hi.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:02 Nora - EarlyWord
4:02
M.D. Waters: 
From what I gather, Penguin is very excited about Archetype, and decided to highlight the novel at their booth for an hour. Beyond that, I really have no idea. All I know is that I was excited to see everyone there supporting this little book I wrote.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:02 M.D. Waters
4:02
Nora - EarlyWord: 
What was it like?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:02 Nora - EarlyWord
4:03
M.D. Waters: 
Unfortunately, I didn't get to go. Just enjoyed all the great pictures after.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:03 M.D. Waters
4:03
M.D. Waters: 
I hear the turnout was great.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:03 M.D. Waters
4:04
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Got it. I understand the t-shirts and tarts were for Comic Con.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:04 Nora - EarlyWord
4:04
M.D. Waters: 
Yes
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:04 M.D. Waters
4:04
Nora - EarlyWord: 
They have the symbol of the luckenbooth -- let see if the readers recognize what it's for...
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:04 Nora - EarlyWord
4:05
How is the luckenbooth symbol used in ARCHETYPE? (1 PTS)
Symbol of high status
To identify forbidden books
To "mark" married womenCorrect Answer
Symbol of a secret society

Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:05 
4:05
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The sequel, PROTOTYPE, will be published in July, just five months after the first title. How did you write it so quickly?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:05 Nora - EarlyWord
4:06
M.D. Waters: 
I have a very supportive family of non-readers who put up with me. If I see an opportunity to zone out for hours at a time, I steal and hoard it. But really, writing is like a second job for me. I work my normal 6-8 hours for the day job, then switch computers/rooms and write until my brain shuts down. Some nights and weekends are easier than others, and obviously I have to work around dinner and diapers and the occasional drive-by wink at my husband.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:06 M.D. Waters
4:07
 Nora - EarlyWord
PROTOTYPE, Sequel to Archetype, 7/24/14
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:07 
4:08
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Where do the cover images come from?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:08 Nora - EarlyWord
4:08
M.D. Waters: 
I think the designer, Monica Benalcazar, pulled every single detail of the Archetype cover from the book. From the glass to the indigo lilies to the bubbles in water...
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:08 M.D. Waters
4:08
M.D. Waters: 
When asked for my thoughts on the Prototype cover, I really wanted to see Emma breaking through the glass, because she breaks through everything standing her way to take back her life. Monica outdid herself with both covers. I think they’re absolutely stunning.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:08 M.D. Waters
4:09
Nora - EarlyWord: 
One of your characters is named Declan -- that is unusual – your other characters are more common – Emma, Noah, Sonya, Charles – it made me suspicious of him from the beginning. Was that your intent?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:09 Nora - EarlyWord
4:09
M.D. Waters: 
LOL, not at all. Actually, I read the name in another series, then heard it again on the show Revenge. So the name went on this list I keep on my phone for future character names. I always saw the name connected to a strong character, and Declan (for me, at least) is that in spades.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:09 M.D. Waters
4:10
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The book’s themes revolve around how we discover truth. What draws you to that idea?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:10 Nora - EarlyWord
4:10
M.D. Waters: 
I only write what I know and/or love, and I absolutely love stories involving some sort of quest for the truth and has me guessing until the end. The best laid stories have me guessing totally wrong and make me literally gasp in surprise. I just hope I’ve managed to do this in Archetype.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:10 M.D. Waters
4:11
Nora - EarlyWord: 
The title ARCHETYPE sounds Jungian – any relationship?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:11 Nora - EarlyWord
4:11
M.D. Waters: 
Other than my using archetypes to develop secondary characters (and a few main), none. This title option came up while looking for synonyms to the original title, which was too leading and gave away the big reveal.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:11 M.D. Waters
4:12
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Congrats on the great review from Publishers Weekly -- “absorbing gothic thriller in science fiction trappings.” You are also racking up great reviews on GoodReads (love this quote, “Dystopian science fiction meets BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP”). Which are more meaningful to you?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:12 Nora - EarlyWord
4:12
M.D. Waters: 
Every single word said about Archetype, good and bad, means a lot to me. I may stalk Goodreads like it’s my job, though… I’m incredibly humbled by how many amazing reviews are shared on an almost weekly basis. I do a lot of chair dancing.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:12 M.D. Waters
4:13
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I see some more participants have joined us -- feel free to ask a question at any time.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:13 Nora - EarlyWord
4:13
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Who is your favorite character in the book (other than Emma)?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:13 Nora - EarlyWord
4:14
M.D. Waters: 
Oh, that’s easy. Arthur Travista. Definitely. I’m always partial to the bad guy—in books, television, or movies. I want to know what makes them tick, because behind those motives we consider evil are a truckload of good intensions. He’s a man with a very mysterious and sad past, who really does believe he’s doing the world a favor.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:14 M.D. Waters
4:15
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
I really had my thinking cap on while reading as I too wanted the truth - very good tone and keeping the tension/suspense high.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:15 Anne
4:16
M.D. Waters: 
@Anne thanks! It was a struggle, so I'm glad it worked out the way it did.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:16 M.D. Waters
4:16
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You got some great blurbs (including one from Richelle Mead) – what’s the process for getting blurbs? Does the publisher do it all?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:16 Nora - EarlyWord
4:17
M.D. Waters: 
The awesome team at Dutton gets them for me, and I can almost feel the 30-second dance parties they must have every time a new one comes in.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:17 M.D. Waters
4:17
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Any hints about what to look forward to in PROTOTYPE? (you say on your blog, “Emma wrote ARCHETYPE, and I wrote PROTOTYPE. She had a real-life story to tell, and I just made some stuff up that could have happened after.” What does that mean?)
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:17 Nora - EarlyWord
4:18
M.D. Waters: 
I found Prototype insanely difficult to write in comparison to Archetype. We writers have voices in our heads, and yes, I know how crazy that sounds. And I say Emma wrote Archetype because I didn’t have to think about a single word of it. The story flew out of me in five weeks and barely changed after seeing my agent and editor. For five solid weeks, Emma was a real person in my head who had a story to tell and used me as a conduit...
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:18 M.D. Waters
4:18
M.D. Waters: 
By the time I sat down to write Prototype (almost a year later), it was like Emma stood against a wall, crossed her ankles and folded her arms…then shrugged at me. It was a scary moment because I knew the basic story points, but didn’t quite feel it the same way. So, for me, it was MY story to tell instead of hers. I had three months full of false starts and character issues and must have deleted roughly 50K words before turning over the final draft to my editor. And I was scared, because what I had in Prototype was The Terminator versus A Beautiful Mind in Archetype. Probably just my perception, but that’s how it felt to me...
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:18 M.D. Waters
4:19
M.D. Waters: 
Prototype begins a year and a half after Archetype ends, and starts with a fast, intense pace that doesn’t end until…The End. The action in Archetype was a lazy ride in the Mad Hatter Tea Cups compared to the battle Emma faces throughout.
I also introduce a whole new cast of characters on top of the old ones, and boy do they have some personality. I have so many favorite characters in Prototype that I can’t possibly choose just one. Two of them make me literally laugh out loud, and I can’t wait to see reader reaction to these guys.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:19 M.D. Waters
4:20
Nora - EarlyWord: 
It's hard to imagine that the pace is even faster in PROTOTYPE! It seems to race along in ARCHETYPE!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:20 Nora - EarlyWord
4:21
M.D. Waters: 
I never thought Archetype was fast paced, so it's interesting to me to see everyone say that.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:21 M.D. Waters
4:22
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Was PROTOTYPE already in your head when you wrote ARCHETYPE, or did you decide to do a sequel later?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:22 Nora - EarlyWord
4:23
M.D. Waters: 
I had a particular version I considered starting before Archetype was picked up, but the epilogue changed, which completely changed the plans I had. So my agent, Jennifer, suggested one thing and I went with it.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:23 M.D. Waters
4:24
[Comment From AnneAnne: ] 
I also saw this as a story about how precious memory is and how we do not necessarily "appreciate" it until we need it.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:24 Anne
4:25
M.D. Waters: 
@Anne I never thought of that, but you're absolutely right.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:25 M.D. Waters
4:26
[Comment From SarahSarah: ] 
I really loved this book. One of my favs of the year. What made you pursue the fertility or infertility theme?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:26 Sarah
4:27
M.D. Waters: 
@Sarah Actually, it came from a topic my dad brought up while I was still in high school. He talked about China limiting the # of children. I put that together with other possible situations that could arise and that was that.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:27 M.D. Waters
4:28
M.D. Waters: 
@Sarah And thanks:) Glad you liked it.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:28 M.D. Waters
4:29
[Comment From Sue D.Sue D.: ] 
This may be a naïve question but did you know you always had a novel inside of your head? Did you always know you wanted to write?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:29 Sue D.
4:30
M.D. Waters: 
@Sue Heck no. I loved reading, but I always listened to my dad who said how hard it was to succeed doing something like writing or being an artist.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:30 M.D. Waters
4:30
M.D. Waters: 
@Sue I had stories I wanted to tell, but no guts to tell them
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:30 M.D. Waters
4:30
Nora - EarlyWord: 
When did you decide to stop listening to his advice?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:30 Nora - EarlyWord
4:31
M.D. Waters: 
@Nora When Twilight came out along with hundreds, if not millions, of others.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:31 M.D. Waters
4:31
M.D. Waters: 
Meyer's story to publication was inspiring to me.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:31 M.D. Waters
4:32
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Ha! Good answer!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:32 Nora - EarlyWord
4:32
[Comment From SarahSarah: ] 
Is there anything planned after Prototype?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:32 Sarah
4:33
M.D. Waters: 
@Sarah LOADS OF THINGS! :) I'm playing with a spinoff and have tossed around other possible character stories to tell. The world is so interesting, and I can't imagine letting it go just yet.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:33 M.D. Waters
4:33
M.D. Waters: 
No more Emma, though.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:33 M.D. Waters
4:33
[Comment From KellyKelly: ] 
It sounds like your dad was a big influence on you. How did he like the book?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:33 Kelly
4:34
M.D. Waters: 
@Kelly My dad is so so so so proud. He carries a copy around everywhere to show me off.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:34 M.D. Waters
4:34
Nora - EarlyWord: 
This question comes from Kelly -- not sure that it came through before:

It sounds like your dad was a big influence on you. How did he like the book?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:34 Nora - EarlyWord
4:34
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Scratch that -- looks like some things overlapped!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:34 Nora - EarlyWord
4:35
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Just curious, you mentioned that Archetype is Emma's story. Is that why you wrote from her POV, inside her head? Did it start out that way or change over time?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:35 Lucy
4:36
M.D. Waters: 
@Lucy I've always written in first person. I dabbled in several stories prior to this one. Emma's voice was by far the most different. The most alive.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:36 M.D. Waters
4:38
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Is PROTOTYPE also in the first person?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:38 Nora - EarlyWord
4:38
M.D. Waters: 
@Nora Yes! Emma all the way:)
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:38 M.D. Waters
4:39
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We ran this poll earlier -- want to tell the folks the correct answer?

How is the luckenbooth symbol used in ARCHETYPE?
Symbol of high status
To identify forbidden books
To "mark" married women
Symbol of a secret society
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:39 Nora - EarlyWord
4:40
M.D. Waters: 
The "mark" of a married woman:)
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:40 M.D. Waters
4:40
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Oh, Yes, Emma is very much ALIVE from the very beginning, which is why I really liked her and how she gradually figured things out.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:40 Lucy
4:41
M.D. Waters: 
@Lucy LOL, it was both a good and bad thing for me being so deep in her head...
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:41 M.D. Waters
4:41
M.D. Waters: 
@Lucy When things got emotional and hard towards the end, I actually went into a funk for a good day or so.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:41 M.D. Waters
4:41
M.D. Waters: 
Hard to bounce back from those sad scenes.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:41 M.D. Waters
4:42
Nora - EarlyWord: 
"Marking" a married woman is an interesting idea -- we also "mark" married people, but with rings. Why did you want to come up with something different?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:42 Nora - EarlyWord
4:43
M.D. Waters: 
@Nora I wanted a way for these men to CLAIM their wives w/out fear of losing them to other men. With the shortage, I can only imagine the lengths some men will go to. Rings come off.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:43 M.D. Waters
4:44
Nora - EarlyWord: 
How did you come up with the symbol of the luckenbooth?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:44 Nora - EarlyWord
4:45
M.D. Waters: 
@Nora I was writing the scene with Emma painting her first picture and needed a symbol that represented marriage. A quick google search later... Luckenbooth.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:45 M.D. Waters
4:45
M.D. Waters: 
Totally spur of the moment.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:45 M.D. Waters
4:46
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Did you do any other research for the book?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:46 Nora - EarlyWord
4:46
M.D. Waters: 
@Nora Hmmm....
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:46 M.D. Waters
4:47
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
I've heard other authors mention that with a second (or later) book their main character wouldn't cooperate ("Emma stood against a wall with crossed legs and folder arms."). Has that happened with other characters?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:47 Lucy
4:47
M.D. Waters: 
@Nora Oh, right... SEAGULLS. I now hate seagulls.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:47 M.D. Waters
4:48
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Sorry, should have been 'folded arms"
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:48 Lucy
4:48
M.D. Waters: 
@Lucy Sonya and I are no longer friends. LOL. She's the only one I had issues with. Her role in Prototype is pretty huge and I was constantly emailing/calling my agent, Jennifer, for help. For some reason, Jennifer GETS Sonya better than me. It's crazy.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:48 M.D. Waters
4:49
Nora - EarlyWord: 
You mentioned that Stephenie Meyer’s publication story inspired you. Any advice for first-time writers?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:49 Nora - EarlyWord
4:49
M.D. Waters: 
Learn and have patience. I spent an entire year taking five workshops a month to learn what it takes to write a novel—not that I follow all these rules off a bridge. I take liberties when the style calls for it. And once “THE” novel is written, breathe through the process and let the universe take it from there. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:49 M.D. Waters
4:50
Nora - EarlyWord: 
I promised Melinda and Charissa in the beginning that we would give them t-shirts and tattoos. Can we make good on that?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:50 Nora - EarlyWord
4:50
M.D. Waters: 
Absolutely!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:50 M.D. Waters
4:51
M.D. Waters: 
Mailing addresses to mistydawnwaters@gmail.com
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:51 M.D. Waters
4:51
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Thanks for making me look good!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:51 Nora - EarlyWord
4:51
M.D. Waters: 
LOL
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:51 M.D. Waters
4:52
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We are getting close to the end of this chat, so time to send in your last questions!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:52 Nora - EarlyWord
4:53
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Misty; Are you open to library appearances or Skyping with reading groups? How libraries contact you?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:53 Nora - EarlyWord
4:53
M.D. Waters: 
Absolutely. Just contact my publicist and she’ll handle it from there. Liza Cassity: liza.cassity@us.penguingroup.com
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:53 M.D. Waters
4:54
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Haven't read Prototype of course, but you mentioned the possibility of a spinoff to continue in this world. Can you tell us which character you might spin off or will that give too much away from Prototype?
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:54 Lucy
4:55
M.D. Waters: 
@Lucy Sure! Not that you'll know her. I introduce Leigh in Prototype. She was a character I hadn't planned on, who showed me some interesting battle scars. She's a great character and fun to work with.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:55 M.D. Waters
4:56
[Comment From KellyKelly: ] 
Thank you for sharing with us!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:56 Kelly
4:56
M.D. Waters: 
@Kelly My pleasure!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:56 M.D. Waters
4:57
Nora - EarlyWord: 
Yes; thanks so much, Misty.

We're about to end this chat, it's been fun.

This chat will be archived on the Penguin First Flights page on EarlyWord -- tell your friends:

http://penguindebutauthors.earlyword.com/

ARCHETYPE is coming out on Feb. 6

Digital readers copies are currently available on Edelweiss and NetGalley
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:57 Nora - EarlyWord
4:57
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Ohhhh, Thanks. Something to speculate about when I get to read Prototype! :-)
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:57 Lucy
4:57
[Comment From LucyLucy: ] 
Thank You for chatting with us! Thanks to Nora for hosting and to Penguin for First Flights!!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:57 Lucy
4:58
M.D. Waters: 
@Lucy Thanks for the great questions!
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:58 M.D. Waters
4:58
Nora - EarlyWord: 
We look forward to toasting ARCHETYPE and Emma when the book arrives in February.
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:58 Nora - EarlyWord
4:59
M.D. Waters: 
:)
Wednesday November 13, 2013 4:59 M.D. Waters
5:00
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