BOOK EVENT: Robin LaFevers discusses Dark Triumph at the Burlington B&N

I apologize for being MIA this past week! I've been reading, reading, but didn't have much to post (organization fail). However, I have a lot for you this coming week, starting off with a recap of the Robin LaFevers talk I attended last Wednesday evening. Unfortunately, I forgot my good camera, and none of my pictures came out that well.  

LaFevers had many fascinating and inspiring things to say. I had a great time meeting her, and even got into the signing line twice so that I could talk to her more. I especially loved how much it was clear that she's tried to make her books real and relatable, amidst the Mediaeval setting. 

I've read several fantastic recaps of LaFevers Dark Triumph tour stops, and I'm not going to rehash everything that she said when I met her. Instead, I'm highlighting some of the points that stood out to me, including the audience questions she answered, because I know those are unique to each location. If you're interested in reading a more full recap from the Salt Lake City event, check Ems amazing post, HERE. LaFevers talked about many of the same points when I met her, and they are all fantastic. 

My husband especially loves to take these "action" shots, while I'm getting books signed.

Robin LaFevers discussion recap:

1) On facing the darkness of Sybella's past: When LaFevers started writing Sybella’s story, she didn’t realize that it would be so dark. At first, she found it difficult to delve into the layers of Sybella’s past. However, she began to realize that many girls don’t get out of their teens without emotional damage. Also, while there are lots of problem (issue) novels about traumatized girls, there aren’t many where that girl gets to be the hero of the story, winning the battles. That gave LaFevers a stronger desire to face Sybella's past. 

2) How did LaFevers get through Sybella’s dark story? She wrote the scene where Sybella encounters Mortain early in her writing process, so that she had a high point to work towards - a moment of healing. She knew Sybella would eventually be okay.

Whenever LaFevers wrote a scene without Beast in it, she felt dark and claustrophobic, but then he’d come on screen and it would be much lighter, like a weight had been lifted. (LOVE LOVE LOVE this point)

3) On Annith's book: LaFevers had trouble connecting to Annith's story at first. She kept imaging Annith stuck in the convent, safe and closed off from the world. But then LaFevers realized that she’d only been thinking about Annith from Ismae and Sybella’s points of view.  Once she was able to get inside Annith's head, the story began to flow. LaFevers began to understand that Annith has her own secrets and story that she wants to share.

I did ask LaFevers whether we’ve met Annith’s love interest yet, and she said that it’s been the question of her tour, but unfortunately she can’t share that information yet (she thought it would cause too much speculation). She also mentioned that Sybella's book occurs during a lull in the political action, but that it would pick up again in Annith's story. Also, don't google these historic events, unless you want to encounter some major spoilers about how it all ends - yes, in case you didn't know, this book is based on real events in history. 

4) How old is Beast? Both Beast and Duval are about 23-24 years. LaFevers mentioned that young girls – aged 12 and up were often married to 30 year-old men, so age differences could be even broader.

5) On the message LaFevers wants to send to girls: LaFevers talked about how she married young (so young that she would not be happy if her children got married as early), but marrying and finding someone to share her life with actually opened up her life, instead of restricting it. She felt stronger, and freer to live her life after she married her husband. LaFevers mentioned that so many books feature controlling, restrictive relationships between guys and girls, where you have to sacrifice freedoms for a relationship, but she wanted to portray a heroine who became more independent and stronger around the man in her life. (I can definitely see this in both Sybella and Ismae's lives)

6) How did Julian enter the story? Julian’s character grew organically with the story. It took LaFevers a while to get him right, because it was easier to paint him as a flat villain. But when LaFevers began to think about the fact that people have to be taught how to love - What would happen if a child never learned that? Could love become warped? - he began to take shape for her. That doesn’t excuse Julian’s behavior, but it makes him more complex. LaFevers thought it was hard to write Julian, and she was worried about taking such a strong stance on a controversial character. She knew some people would disagree with her take on him, but thought it was important to include his character.  (I told her that many people who've read her book did get the point she was making)