Talk Back Thursdays : Christopher Golden

Today we have author Christopher Golden in. You'll remember I reviewed his upcoming book, WHEN ROSE WAKES last week.

Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome Christopher Golden to Points of Clarification. Thank you for agreeing to answer a few things for us, Christopher.


CG: My pleasure, Claire.

You’ve consistently brought us darker work, is WHEN ROSE WAKES in keeping with that vein? Tell us a bit about the book.

CG: I don't want to go into too much detail, but the set-up is fairly straightforward. Rose is a sixteen year old girl who wakes from a coma in a Boston hospital, having lost her memory. She knows that her aunts--who are her guardians--are her aunts, but beyond that, not much. They're peculiar women with old-fashioned ways, and some very strange habits, but they love her and do their best to help her reacclimate to the world. They sign her up for school, take her shopping, comfort her when she has nightmares...But Rose starts to think that perhaps they're not being entirely honest with her about her past. And there's this creepy woman who seems to be stalking her...

Wow, a fairy tale retelling! We’ve seen a million Cinderella’s, but Sleeping Beauty is rare. How did the idea come to you?


CG: I honestly couldn't tell you. Sometimes, when I'm very lucky, ideas just pop up, fully formed, and this was one of those times. It was...what happens when Sleeping Beauty wakes up? What if she woke up NOW?

You are quite the prolific writer with dozens of titles to your name? Tell us, how did it all start?

CG: Hmmm. If you mean when did I first want to write, I suppose I first dabbled all the way back in middle school. I wrote my first short stories in high school, and started my first novel, OF SAINTS AND SHADOWS, as a senior in college. It was actually during my senior year at college that I decided that I wanted to be a novelist. I graduated from college in 1989, had a fantastic job in New York for three years, and then sold my first novel in 1992 and quit the job. I've been a full time writer ever since.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

CG: My standard answer is to read as much as you can, and in different genres, to write as much as you can, to seek out an agent who loves your work, to attend conventions where you can meet other writers, and to educate yourself about the industry. With the current seismic shift in the publishing business, that last part is more important than ever.

Finally, plotter or pantser? (Do you outline your novels or just jump right in?)


CG: There's always some kind of outline. When I write with a collaborator, it's usually much more thoughtfully worked out in advance. But when I'm working solo, I tend to be more improvisational.

Thank you again for joining us, Christopher and good luck with WHEN ROSE WAKES.


CG: Thanks, Claire.

You're welcome!

WHEN ROSE WAKES is out September 28th. And you've got a chance to win a copy right here right now.



Just tell me, who's your favourite fairy tale character?

Today's contest is open ONLY in the US. You must be a follower to enter. Contest closes Monday, September 27th at 11.59 pm. The winner will have until midnight Thursday to contact me or I'll draw a new winner.

Good luck!

Also, don't forget to enter the Banned Books Giveaway.