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’Twas the day before Halloween,
and all through the library…
Okay, I can’t think of a decent rhyme for library, so I’ll save you the eye-roll and just get to the point. Last Thursday was my final day working at the public library, and my co-workers put together a delicious potluck for my going-away party. So while the day felt bittersweet, it tasted like frosting and quiche.
I bequeathed a couple of my toys which had been put to great use over the past five years. I gave my pigapult (it’s like a catapult, but flings tiny plastic piggies) to Marci, my boss. But to keep the peace in my absence, I gave the piggies to Diana. I gave Mr. Peabody, who can shoot a stream of "water" up to ten feet, to JoAnn (for the past few years, her desk was well within Mr. Peabody's reach).
I received a few parting gifts, as well…including a pair of shiny red boxers. (Don't ask.) And when Halloween rolled around the next day, those boxers made a great addition to my costume. Thanks, Barry!
That night, my wife and I had a Halloween get-together at our house. While I was organizing the photos for this post, I realized that most of you have never seen a picture of my brother. So here’s Nate (do you notice the resemblance?), along with his girlfriend, Sarah (Moaning Myrtle!).
I had no idea what my wife was dressing up as. So when she came downstairs dressed as Hannah Baker (from Thirteen Reasons Why), I freaked out. Freaked! Out!!! How often do authors get to hang out with their characters?
Overall, we didn’t have as many trick-or-treaters this year, but we did have more teenagers. At one point, a group of three girls were at the door. My wife and I were letting them pick their favorites from the candy bowl. As they turned to leave, and we began shutting the door, one girl whispered something to her friend.
TEEN: She looked just like that girl from that book.
ME: Wait, what was that?
TEEN (turning back around): What was what?
ME: You said something about a book.
TEEN: She’s dressed like someone in a book I'm reading.
ME: Really? Really??? What book?
TEEN: Thirteen Rea—
ME: She is! That’s who she is! She’s Hannah Baker!
TEEN (to my wife): You read that book?
ME: I wrote that book!!!
TEEN (looking my costume up and down): You? You did?
- Jay
Last week, I got an e-mail from someone working on one of the foreign translations of Thirteen Reasons Why. He needed a few things clarified to help with his translation because his job isn’t simply to swap one word for another, but to interpret each word for another language. His job is to make my story make sense. And some of his questions fascinated me!
Here are some examples:
What does "Boy Scout" mean in this context: "my tongue twisted into knots even a Boy Scout would walk away from"? (p.17)
I gave him a fairly detailed answer to that question. How he’s going to whittle my answer into a few simple words to convey context, I have no idea (which is why I never did well in my foreign language classes).
On page 57, Ms. Antilly says "Or... not." Does this mean "Maybe it was not a good idea to introduce you two to become buddies"?
One thing I am excessively conscious about is slang. Pop culture and slang will age a novel like nothing else. Unless a novel is meant to be
timefull (which is my made-up opposite for
timeless), most pop culture and slang can be deleted without being missed. “Or…not” was said with a little sarcasm in my book, making it a tad slangy...and making the translator earn his pay.
On page 59...
Then, on page 194...
Ah, yes. Something was
found in translation, as well. Because a translator can’t take any word for granted, they need to pay special attention to everything. And sometimes they can catch little inconsistencies no one else has caught. (Yes, I already contacted my editor and said, “How did we miss this???”)
On page 283, it says "Class of '93". Just out of curiosity, is there some special meaning in the year 1993?
It's extremely cool to know that the person working on the translation also enjoyed the book. Can you imagine if the translator hated the book?
Yikes! So it meant a lot to me that there were details he wanted to know just out of curiosity. And in case any of you are suddenly curious, 1993 is when I graduated from high school.
- Jay
P.S. Speaking of graduating from high school, the list of people taking the challenge of
sharing their senior photos is still growing. Did you show us yours?
Last week, I spent three days speaking and signing books at the 18th Annual Novello Festival of Reading in Charlotte, North Carolina. Was it amazing? Was it amazing? Yes. It was amazing!
On Thursday and Friday, I spoke at four high schools: Ardrey Kell, Performance Learning Center, North Mecklenburg, and West Charlotte. It's unbelievable how every presentation can be a totally unique experience. And yet, you should believe it cuz it's true!
As usual, I use a PowerPoint to show my journey as an author and how Thirteen Reasons Why came to be. And, as usual, this slide here seems to get the biggest reaction. My favorite part, every time, is when I get to read a few pages with one of the students. Their interpretations of Hannah are always different (and not just because of the various accents they give her around the country) but they're always great!
This was the first time I arrived at a school, greeted by my name on the marquee. Did that give me the chills? Uh...kinda!
At another school, for the first time, they had posterboards and whiteboards all over the place announcing my visit. One whiteboard was overflowing with favorite quotes from the book. One posterboard was full of positive messages derived from the book. Here's Ashley and me in front of one of the whiteboards. (She designed the audiotape!)
The library across from my hotel had a gallery of original children's book art. There was a Tomie dePaola. A Garth Williams. And check out this close-up of a David Wisniewski paper cut-out piece.
Down the street was another library...just for children and teens. The ImaginOn is amazing! Aside from plenty of things to read (except for Thirteen Reasons Why...it was checked out!), there are a million cool things for children to play with. The teens even have a studio where they can film animated cartoons, live-action scenes (with a blue-screen for special f/x), or record their own music. And all you need is a library card.
Plus, they have some huge art structures.
Oh, and there were other authors in town, too! That's what Novello does. They bring in all types of authors to speak with all types of readers. And, quite often, I need to pinch myself over the people I find myself hanging out with. Here I am, dining with A.M. Jenkins, Margaret Peterson Haddix, and Ellen Hopkins. (Pinch-pinch!)
On the final day of the program, all of the authors and illustrators for children and teens did a group Q&A at ImaginOn, followed by an autograph party outside. Here I am being clawed by the author of The Cheetah Girls, Deborah Gregory. Growl power!
I swear, Cynthia Kadohata, author of Kira-Kira, started it! But at least I can say I fulfilled my long-held dream of putting bunny ears on a Newbery-winning author.
Before going home, I paid a visit to a traveling Pompeii exhibit. The rooms were full of items excavated out of the ash, bringing back to life an amazing city. But the final room was heartbreaking. The walls and floor were black. Overhead spotlights illuminated the famous plaster casts of the final moments of people and animals trapped in their homes and on the streets. A slave still had shackles around his legs. A man held a handkerchief up to his mouth. A man and a woman spend their last moments together.
It's funny how authors are attracted to things like Pompeii. Ms. Haddix and Ms. Jenkins were walking the exhibit and ran into Ms. Kadohata. And then they ran into me. As Ms. Haddix pointed out, only one of us opted to purchase the audiotour device. And if you had to guess, based on our books, which author would be most fascinated by the idea of an audiotour...you might pick me.
And you'd be right.
- Jay
Awhile back, I told you I was re-examining my life’s passions. I wanted to find a way to occasionally stop worrying so much about writing and promotion. I needed to think about something else. I needed a hobby!
But that, apparently, wasn’t what I really needed.
This week, I did something I never thought I’d do. And I definitely never thought I’d tell anyone about it if I did. But it was such a great experience that I want to tell you about it. So here it goes: I went to a shrink.
Wait, wait! I mean, I went to a therapist. (Sorry. Old habit.)
My time “on the couch” wasn’t at all like it’s portrayed in the movies and cartoons. The room was small but brightly lit and I sat on a two-seater couch facing the counselor across the room, as opposed to lounging on my back while staring at the ceiling with the lights dimmed.
So what did I learn? Nothing that shouldn’t have been totally obvious…but wasn’t.
Like most writers, I’m an observer. And I don’t simply observe what other people do, but I try to predict what they will do based purely on visual clues. It’s a fun little exercise which helps when it’s time to figure out individual traits for my characters.
The problem? I’m an observer, but I hate being observed. Even by me!
As a writer, here’s what I found so interesting. Whenever I’m asked which character in Thirteen Reasons Why I most identify with, my answer is automatic. And most outside observers will guess that same character. But when I get really deep into motivation and how a character thinks as opposed to just acts, my answer is different. And looking back at my previous (unpublished) manuscripts, I actually identify more closely…in a much more personal way…with different characters than I originally thought.
Weird!
It’s almost like my writing could have been used as therapy, but I wasn’t letting it.
Alright, I’m gonna pull myself back into my head for awhile. Thanks for listening. And who should I make the check out to?
- Jay
BONUS COOLNESS: Here's the Italian cover of my book, known over there as
13.
Exactly twenty-one hours ago I found out Thirteen Reasons Why will be making its debut on the New York Times Best Sellers list. That means, of course, that I’ve been freaking out for exactly twenty-one hours now.
After getting phone calls from my editor and publisher, calling my wife and parents, and opening a ton of awesome e-mails from other writers, my brain took a brief detour to The Silly Side. For example:
During my first conversation with the first girl I ever went on a date with, I noticed my shoelace was untied…yet I never would’ve thought the awkward moment which followed would make it into a NY Times best selling book.
When I slipped on wet grass, my friend tumbled over me, and two girls we were trying to impress began laughing hysterically…I never would’ve thought that embarrassing moment would make it into a NY Times best selling book.
And when I finally identified the bizarre flavor of my first real kiss…I never would’ve thought that taste (slightly adjusted) would make it into a NY Times best selling book.
But it’s true!
So I’d like to send a heartfelt thank you to everyone who read Thirteen Reasons Why. And I’d like to send a gigantic heartfelt thank you to everyone who told their friends that they needed to read it, too.
Wow! You made me a New York Times Best Selling Author!!!
- Jay
This post, I hope, will give encouragement to other apprehensive writers out there to write as honestly as possible. As most of you know, Thirteen Reasons Why deals with some very serious issues that way too many teens deal with in real life. While I was writing it, I had to constantly ignore the inner-person I refer to as Insecure Jay.
I.J. knew there would be people who didn’t approve of the way certain issues were dealt with in the book…or that those issues were dealt with at all. As someone who tries really hard to avoid conflict and hates tense relationships, I.J. constantly considered watering down certain scenes to avoid such problems. But C&H (Confident & Honest) Jay knew that was the wrong way to go because he hates reading watered down scenes in other books. It always weakens the emotional truth of a story.
For some reason, I’ve recently found myself discussing this issue with other authors working on edgy teen novels. (By the way, I’ve decided “edgy” simply means “someone’s gonna disagree with what you have to say.”) I know I would've had a much easier time comforting Insecure Jay if I’d been able to hear what actual teens thought about some of my favorite edgy books.
So…here ya go!
I received permission from two teens who sent messages to my MySpace account to reprint their words on this blog. In exchange, I’m sending each of them a signed audiobook of Thirteen Reasons Why. These messages represent two types of people who seem to really be latching on to my book. I chose them because they arrived close in time to each other (two days apart) and…well…because I love the honesty in their voices. It probably took a lot of guts to write what they did, and I appreciate it.
(To maintain the integrity of these messages, I didn’t change a thing…other than deleting their names.)
Female; 16 years old
Hi there =) My name's (-----). I just wanted to let you know that Thirteen Reasons Why made a big impact on my life. For the past couple years I have actually been struggling with the thought of suicide, and everything you mentioned and portrayed were so accurate; the rumors, the boys, the drama, everything. And it makes me feel so much better knowing that someone understands. Hannah really reminds me of myself. When i read the poem that she wrote that was studied in her class, it really affected me because I wrote a poem very similar to that, prior to reading the book. It's almost eerie how much the book resembles my life. i just wanted to let you know that your book gave me hope. It made me realize that no matter how much you think no one is there, they might be the person you least expect. And i want to thank you for helping make a difference in my life =) I read it in one day. I couldn'y put it down. Please keep the novels coming =) I love your work. Take care, and thanks again.
Male; 19 years old
Dear Jay Asher, Yes your book was amazing and i bet you get that alot. From reading this book i have changed alot. I use to be someone that would be very mean and would be a dick to people. Since your book I have changed from listening to people and being more curtious. I know you have probley all ready thought about this but i think you should make a movie out of this book. Thank you for reading this and i hope to talk to later.
- Jay
The E.B. White Read Aloud Award was first given in 2004, then divided into two categories a couple years later (one for picture books and one for older readers). Being a rather new award, it’s still building name recognition, and not one I imagined seeing my name attached to…until now.
No, I didn’t win the award. But Thirteen Reasons Why has been nominated for it. Quick! Guess which category!
The nomination got me thinking about an aspect of writing which I never thought about while working on 13RW…or any of my previous (and still unpublished) novels. See, I always wanted lots and lots and lots of readers. Primarily, I wanted to entertain them. And secondarily (if that’s a word, and even if it’s not), I wanted to present opportunities to think about the world from other points of view…and not necessarily my point of view.
But I never considered that amazing D-word: discussion.
Because of 13RW book clubs popping up across the country, schools and bookstores and libraries are bringing teens and adults together to discuss the issues raised in the book. Those discussions allow for even more points of view than what I presented in the book. Which is amazing!
I’ve also heard from parents and children, boyfriends and girlfriends, and best friends who read the book aloud to each other (one person reading as Clay, the other as Hannah). Those discussions led to even deeper understandings among already close readers. Which is amazing!
Why this has me so excited is because it brings me back to my high school days. I remember one teacher, Mr. Miller, who often brought up “contemporary issue” discussions in his classroom. Some of the issues were controversial. But when he raised the issues, he never offered his own opinions. He simply wanted us to hear what other students thought. And I was very opinionated about some of those issues. In response to my opinions, his most common question was, “But why?” And he never accepted, “It’s just how I feel” as a legitimate answer.
After hearing other points of view in that class, my opinions changed quite a bit on quite a few issues…though I rarely admitted that in class!
So whether Thirteen Reasons Why (or future books) are read aloud among close family members and friends, or discussed by large groups in a safe environment, I am beyond thrilled…because discussion is always a good thing. At the very least, even if your opinion isn’t changed, it allows you to know why other people hold differing points of view.
And that, I know, has made me a much better person…and writer.
- Jay
Razorbill has started working on the paperback version of Thirteen Reasons Why (which won't be out for a long time, so ya might as well go buy the hardcover!). When I first heard about this, I asked if they wanted any new author blurbs for the book cover. I had one particular author in mind, and they told me that if I could get that blurb, I’d be their favorite author.
Okay, those weren’t their exact words…but I’m really good at reading into things.
I first met Ellen Hopkins at the 2007 SCBWI national conference (a couple months before my book came out). I introduced myself while getting her to sign my copy of Crank, and she said she’d already heard really good things about my book. Seriously, that made me almost collapse. Then, soon after my book came out, I somehow found myself sitting on a panel with her during a bookstore gig. Hearing her talk to the audience about her philosophy on writing, I became a huge fan of hers. I mean, I was already a fan of her books, but I gained a deep respect for her as an author. Her take on dealing with difficult subjects and presenting the story honestly made me feel like I had a kindred spirit in the world of authors. And I thought she might like my book if she ever read it.
When Robin and I crashed the Big Sur writing conference, where Ms. Hopkins was on the faculty, I had the chance to listen in on her discussing my book with other faculty members. She hadn’t finished the book yet, but had definite opinions on what she’d read so far, and it was extremely positive.
But then…I didn't hear from her. And authors are constantly letting each other know when we like a book.
Being an overly sensitive guy, I assumed that meant she hated the rest of the book and was afraid to tell me so. Eventually, I crossed my fingers and e-mailed her, asking if she’d be willing to give me a blurb for the paperback. But I closed my e-mail with something like: Of course, if you hated my book, there’s no need to respond.
And she returned my e-mail with this:
Every once in awhile you come across a book that you can't get out of your mind, one you have to rush back to if you must put it down for some reason. Jay Asher's Thirteen Reasons Why is one of those books, and is at the very top of my personal "Must-Read" list.
Ellen Hopkins, author of NY Times bestsellers, Crank, Burned, Impulse and Glass
At that, I uncrossed my fingers!
- Jay
This week, I was handed a whole bunch o' good news. For starters, my editor informed me that Thirteen Reasons Why was heading into its second printing. And that’s awesome because it had a very nice first printing of 40,000 copies! Basically, that means there are already enough books in print to give one copy to every person in Lima, Ohio…or Jefferson City, Missouri…or Fairbanks, Alaska. But now, citizens in neighboring towns will have a chance to read my book, as well.
Note: I chose those three cities because, as of today, I haven’t personally heard from any readers there. So Lima, Jefferson, and Fairbanks...I’m putting you on notice!
Next, I learned that Thirteen Reasons Why was placed onto three very cool lists by the Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA):
- Best Books for Young Adults
- Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
- Selected Audiobooks for Young Adults
It's impossible to fully describe how thrilled I am to have my book added to those lists. But the most exciting part for me is knowing that librarians think I wrote something a reluctant reader will find interesting.
Okay. Bring on next week. I’m ready!
- Jay
Today I want to tell you about the most amazing and personally inspiring thing to happen since the release of Thirteen Reasons Why. And it all started in Alabama!
Last month, Holtville Middle School held the very first (as far as I know) book club discussion using my book...
A little over a month before the discussion, their school librarian contacted me and we began brainstorming ways to make the meeting as special as possible for the students. On my end, I sent the students bookmarks and autographed bookplates. They submitted questions about the book or my writing process to Mrs. Stewart, and then I recorded my answers on an audiocassette (if you don't understand why, read the book!), which they listened to as part of their meeting...
On Mrs. Stewart's end, not only did she supply good food, but she invited Dr. Adams from the Alabama State Department of Safety and Prevention to lead a discussion on the warning signs of suicide.
I was extremely touched to have Mrs. Stewart using my book to positively affect her community. (You can read the HMS blog to get their take on how it went.) But from there, the idea started spreading. Now schools in many states across the country are putting together their own Thirteen Reasons Why book clubs, following Holtville Middle School's format. I'll be sending every school freebies and an audiocassette answering their questions, and they'll provide a professional in the field to discuss the issues raised in the book.
Of course, there will also be a lot of silliness which takes place. For example, look at what happens when there's only one copy of the book left...
- Jay
[Below is an interview Jay conducted with Joel Johnstone, the voice of Clay Jensen on the Listening Library audiobook of Thirteen Reasons Why. And remember to leave a comment for your chance to win a free copy!]
Tell us a little about yourself.
I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, about a mile and a half from Jeffery Dahmer. It was a very happy place! Seriously though, I am proud to be a midwesterner; I believe it has helped give me a sort of general objectivity as I split time now living between the coasts. After high school, I moved from Milwaukee to New York to attend Fordham University. I went to the Lincoln Center campus, which was a bit of a culture shock, initially. I studied acting there, and also went abroad for six months to study at a classical conservatory in London and Oxford. After graduating I began doing a lot of off-Broadway theatre, as well as TV and film work. Outside of my career, I am an enormous fan of baseball, playing and watching. I'm on a softball team with some acting buddies right now, and let's just say our team is not doing well. Please pray for us.
What attracted you to acting?
I grew up with a problematic obsession for baseball. I went to sleep wearing my Brewers hat and Dale Murphy baseball glove until I was eleven or so. In middle school I tried out for a community theatre production of The Music Man, and was cast as Winthrop, the Ron Howard part. I had one of the best times of my life, and so I began splitting my time between baseball, in the summer, and theatre, during the ten months of winter in Wisconsin. In high school my dreams of playing second base for the Brewers quickly vanished as I was benched for the majority of my sophomore year. However, it wasn't as big a blow to me as I expected. I had been performing in my high school plays as well, and I realized I was getting a lot more attention from girls by doing theatre than playing baseball. I would love to tell a story that some transcendent, out-of-body experience is what initially attracted me to acting, but truthfully it began as just a great way to meet girls. I got a lot more serious about it throughout high school. My acting teacher was incredibly encouraging and told me this was something he thought I could turn into a career. He helped me get into a summer program at the Steppenwolf Theare in Chicago the summer before my senior year. From then on, I knew this was what I was going to do.
What have been some of your favorite acting jobs?
My very first job on film, I got to play an American serial killer for a television show in London. It was sort of the British version of Tales From The Crypt. That was a wonderful introduction to film work. In one episode I killed five people using a nail gun, a samurai sword, an axe and a shiv. Ironically, I was in London studying Shakespeare at the time. Another favorite part of mine is Wesley from Sam Shepard's Curse of The Starving Class. That play is very haunting to me. If I could play that part every night for a year I would be ecstatic. Shepard is absolutely one of my favorite playwrights, and actors.
How did you get started voicing audiobooks?
I got started voicing audiobooks after I had been doing radio and television voiceovers for a year or so. The first audition I had was a twelve page, single spaced read, and I remember thinking, "There's no way I'll ever get this." There were so many different voices I had to create; I couldn't have been more intimidated. I got a call a month later saying the book company wanted to hire me. I was stunned and terrified at the same time. The 12-page audition was a challenge for me, and the manuscript they gave me two days ahead of time was 300+ pages. Somehow, I got through it. Since then, they've gotten much easier and a lot more fun.
Is there anything special you do between when you get the script and when you sit in front of the microphone?
The biggest thing I stress when I prepare is getting all the characters down. I read the whole book, and every time a new character is introduced I write it down on a piece of paper. Sometimes when I'm finished I'll have a list of up to 50 names. I then go through and try out different voices for each character. I can't have any repeats or anything too similar, so I make notes next to each name. A lot of roles demand a dialect, so I use a website that archives audio samples of people from just about every country speaking English in their native dialect. That has been a life saver. I also highlight every piece of dialogue in the book ahead of time. This gives me warning, as I'm reading the narrative in my own voice, that a character is coming up and I have to make an adjustment in pitch, accent, etc.
What did you enjoy most about recording Thirteen Reasons Why?
From an actor's point of view, it is a thousand times more enjoyable to narrate a book in the first person, like this one. It is much more conducive to giving a performance, rather than trying to force one. The book is rich with information about Clay, which allows me to delve deeper into the read and have more fun with it.
Aside from the performance aspect, I'm fascinated by books and films revolving around high school years. In my own life, whether I like it or not, high school was a very important part of my life. Not even including the academics portion, it was an extremely informative and character building time of my life. Your book reminded me about that, which I tend to forget time to time. I've also noticed most people I meet in my adult life seem to remind me of different versions of people I went to high school with. Many of the voices I used for different characters in the book were impressions of my old classmates.
Was there anything that made recording Thirteen Reasons Why more difficult than other audiobooks?
In many ways, this was the most demanding book I've narrated. In every other job I've had, I was the only reader and had the responsibility of creating each character in the book. In Thirteen Reasons Why I hadn't yet heard Debra read Hannah. I knew what Hannah said on the page, but I didn't know the inflections or emotion behind what Debra said, which is partially what I'm responding to. The best analogy is that it was similar to acting in front of a green screen. My main job as the reader is to tell the story through characters, breath, emotion, etc. And sharing that responsibility with Debra without her in the studio was an even bigger obstacle. I had to tell the story through Clay's narration, while reading Hannah's part quietly in my head, in order to keep it consistent. I truly have to thank Scott (the producer) for guiding me through the process. There is no way I could have done this without his direction.
[Below is an interview Jay conducted with Debra Wiseman, the voice of Hannah Baker on the Listening Library audiobook of Thirteen Reasons Why. And remember to leave a comment for your chance to win a free copy!]
Tell us a little about yourself.
I grew up in the great area of Palo Alto, California. I was always interested in the performing arts and Silicon Valley was rich with theatrical options. I did as many shows as I could and gained a lot of valuable experience. I visited New York City at the age of 11 and saw Les Miserables on Broadway. From that moment on I knew what I wanted to do and where I wanted to be. The Big Apple!
What attracted you to acting?
Acting was just a natural extension of my first love...singing. Just listening to good vocals isn't enough, there has to be emotion behind it and that's where acting comes in. I prefer comedy to drama, but I do both. My grandfather was an opera singer and cantor in Europe and that is from whom I got my voice.
What have been some of your favorite acting jobs?
I got my very first job in New York from an obscure ad in Backstage (a trade magazine) and after auditioning, I got a call that I had gotten the job. There was a catch: Would I cut my hair? Yikes! I was just out of school and had printed up 500 brand new resume pictures. Not to mention, my hair was long, curly,and extremely important to my persona. So I said, "No, I couldn't cut it," and the man said he would call me back to tell me if I got the job or not. I then asked about the project. He said it was Woody Allen's fall project (soon to be titled Bullets over Broadway). I said I would pay him and be bald to do the film! It was a fantastic experience in every way and I didn't have to cut my hair!
How did you get started voicing audiobooks?
Luck! I had my first audition for one and felt very at home in the medium. I booked that job and that led to others and ultimately...this job! I would like to work more in this medium. I really enjoy the challenge.
Is there anything special you do between when you get the script and when you sit in front of the microphone?
I read the script and make a list of all the characters and their personality traits. I then think of voices for each. Some voices are more of a stretch, but if the character is minor then I can sustain it. I usually keep the main character's voice close to my own sound since that is the voice for most of the book. In this book, my normal sound was too perky and light for such a troubled character, but we tried a few variations until we got one that sounded and felt like this young girl.
What did you enjoy most about recording Thirteen Reasons Why?
I really enjoy the challenge of choosing character voices that fit the style of the book and help relay the story effectively. This was a profound book and I felt that is was very important for the listeners to feel this character's honesty, so they could really experience what the character was going through.
Was there anything that made recording Thirteen Reasons Why more difficult than other audiobooks?
This book is not a flimsy or silly read. It is a serious novel depicting deep issues that can arise in high school. I knew going in that we had to keep the serious tone of the book, but also be real as to the whims and humor that goes with being a teenager. Well, by the end of the book I was completely invested in the character (just like when you read a good book). There was an emotional scene and I started crying, which was just a reaction to speaking her words as honestly as possible. If I was just reading the novel silently at home, I probably would've cried for the character as well. It means it's a good book, it pulls you in!
I’ve had Listening Library’s audiobook version of Thirteen Reasons Why in my possession for several weeks. But it wasn’t until a few days ago that I finally slid the first C.D. into my car stereo. Basically, I was terrified of hearing someone else (in this case, two someone elses) interpret my words. And fifteen minutes after pressing play, I couldn’t take it anymore and I pressed eject.
I couldn’t take it anymore because I was freaking out! I worked on that story for several years…I knew it inside and out. Yet I was so caught up in its retelling that my muscles were tense and my mouth was hanging open as I waited to find out what was going to happen next. How is that even possible!?!?
It's possible because of the actors. According to AudioFile Magazine:
The novel makes a perfect transformation to audio. Debra Wiseman narrates Hannah’s story with a blend of dispassion, disgust, and defeat. Joel Johnstone portrays the grieving Clay, who chimes in uncertainly from time to time to protest Hannah’s words, his comments marked with desperation. The interplay of the two is perfectly choreographed in this powerful audio.
I contacted Debra and Joel to learn more about the actors who literally gave voices to the voices in my head. And over the next two days, I’d like to introduce them to you.
Also, be sure to leave comments. On Monday, I'll randomly select one commenter from each Q&A to receive a free audiobook of
Thirteen Reasons Why.
- Jay
PAST POSTS: To re-read about my trip to NYC to witness the recording of
Thirteen Reasons Why,
click here. And if you don't already know about the audiobook's bonus track,
click here.
This past Tuesday, I spoke on a YA panel at Books Inc. in San Francisco. It was for their Not Your Mother's Book Club year-end party. And I must say, if every community had a group like that, literacy rates would be sky-high (and I'd be rich...rich I tell you!!!).
My wife drove up with me and got the chance to see her honey in action for the very first time. At one point, she claims, she even had to hold back tears of pride. At another point, she couldn't help inserting herself into a conversation two girls were having about my book by saying, "Guess what! That's my husband!"
Good times and good pizza were had by all...
Jennifer of NYMBC introducing us.
(Notice
CynJay squatting on the right?
Thanks for coming out!)
Brian Mandabach, me,
Barry Lyga,
Ellen Hopkins,
and members of the book club
You Say Read We Say Party!
They actually seem interested
in what I'm saying.
"No, but I hope
someday I'll be big enough
to get writer's cramp from excessive autographing."
- Jay
CHECK THIS OUT: Ever hear the phrase "boys don't read"? Well, let's put that ridiculous cliche away! Check out
Boys Blogging Books (which includes an interview with yours truly). I'm definitely gonna check these guys out on a regular basis...and so should you.
Last weekend, I headed to L.A. for the Southern California Independent Booksellers Association trade show. First, I schmoozed on the trade show floor, where the amazing Penguin rep (Hello, Nicole!) was hyping Thirteen Reasons Why like she’d actually read it and enjoyed it. Her pitch was so good, it made me want to order some copies for my own bookstore…and I don’t even own a bookstore!
Then it was time for dinner. They fed the authors first so we could chat with the booksellers at their dinner later on without worrying about anything green clinging to our teeth. Now, I don’t know how to express how cool the evening was without sounding like Mr. Namedropper, so I’m just going to show you a photo taken at our dinner table, and you can just imagine how many times my head almost exploded from being surrounded by so much coolness.
Neal Shusterman, Lisa Yee, me,
Brian Selznick, Pam Munoz Ryan, Cecil Castellucci
(putting names in a caption does not count as namedropping)
The next day, I went out to lunch with Lisa Yee and Julia DeVillers in Santa Monica. Of course, Lisa brought her li’l yellow marshmallow friend with her, who decided to act like Tarzan of the Peeps for this shot.
Then I spoke to three back-to-back English classes at Flintridge Prep; my first school visit since the book came out. Anyone who knows me knows that I’m a nervous wreck while waiting to speak before anything more three-dimensional than a bathroom mirror. But honestly, and I’m not just saying this because I know some of the students are probably reading it, they set the bar pretty high for school visits. Smart. Fun. Respectful. And it’s so easy to get them to laugh! (Thanks for a wonderful visit, Ms. Cooper.)
After that, I headed to Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeeshop. They have a Teen Advisory Board there, which I had the chance to speak with and sign books for. Then they permitted me to stay and listen to the board meeting. The store lets them take home and review publisher catalogues and advance reading copies, thereby allowing teens to help stock the teen shelves. I know…brilliant! Chris Crutcher’s newest book, Deadline, was the only book mentioned by more than one person as a must-read. (Well, that and Thirteen Reasons Why…but the author of that book was sitting close to the cookies.)
- Jay
Today’s the official release date of Thirteen Reasons Why. Woo-hoo! We made it! And because the occasion has my insides all jittery and giddy…jigittery?…I need to do a simple post or my head’s gonna explode with all the stuff I’d like to say.
So let me officially introduce you to the official Thirteen Reasons Why website:
www.thirteenreasonswhy.com
Other than writing the book it's based upon, I had nothing to do with this. And that, to me, makes it especially exciting. That means the people at Penguin (Hello, Ms. Courtney Wood…you genius, you!) took my words and ran with them.
Here are some of the cool things you’ll find:
- Click the cover to read an excerpt from the beginning of the book.
- Copy down the hand-scribbled digits to Hannah Baker’s cell phone. (I dare ya to call it!)
- Check out the Chamber of Commerce map which plays a big part in the book. Click around to read bits of dialogue from Hannah’s audiotapes. You’ll also find five cassettes which you can drag-and-drop into the tape player to actually hear snippets of dialogue.
- Listen to a podcast of me filling out a book report form for…what else!…Thirteen Reasons Why.
- Listen to a podcast of me being questioned by Robin and Eve.
- Plus a few other cool things to read.
Okay, what are you still doing here? Go. Go!
As for me, I’m gonna go slightly mad for the rest of the day.
- Jay
With the release of Jay’s debut novel, Thirteen Reasons Why, Robin and Eve would like to take a moment to show him their love and support, and possibly tease him a little. (It’s no secret that Robin and Eve will take any opportunity—no matter how tacky it may be—to tease Jay.)
And with that…a little lovin’ for the Mer-Man:
- - -
Dear Jay,
Well, your baby was born a little early and showed up in bookstores before the due date. You did a lot of good deep breathing and stayed focused and now the rest of the world gets to read your baby, Baby!! I still don’t think you needed all of those painkillers, so thanks for sharing. (Okay, I’m going to stop this birthing analogy now, because I’m remembering my own experience with childbirth and I think I’m gonna hurl.)
Anyway, the moment we saw your book on the bookshelf was like nothing I’ve experienced, and I’m glad we all got to spend it together (even though Eve spent it with us via voice message…but it was an emotional voice message!). I just want you to know how excited I am that this wonderful story is out in the world for teens to read. They will be changed by your words forever. Just as I have been.
If I could think of some way to tease you at this moment, I would. But I can’t come up with one joke about you being obsessive or balding or girly (the guy absolutely loves Titanic). So congratulations, and hopefully you won’t lose any more hair.
Love you, man!
Robin
- - -
What up, J-Man!
I’ll never forgive myself for not being there! We’ve dreamed of this day for five years and I was supposed to be there to hold your hand and say, “Breathe! Breathe! Breathe! Push! Push! Push!”
Words cannot describe how proud I am. Why do people always say, “Words cannot describe?” I mean, we are writers, after all. If anyone is able to describe something with words, it’s us, right? That’s what we do all day. We describe stuff with words. What a funny thing to say!
Where was I? Oh, yes. It makes me so happy to watch you bust out in such a huge way. I always knew you would. In addition to being the most dedicated and creative writer-boy I know, you have crafted an important piece of literature that will entertain people and touch lives for many many years. I always say this, but I hope to be you someday!
Congratulations! You deserve this more than anybody I know.
xoxoxo
Evie P
- - -
Thanks for enduring our sappy moment. Please comment if you want to add to the lovefest, or better yet, if you happen to have a better book-birthing analogy, bring it! (We know you guys are good at this!)
- Robin and Eve
PREFACE: In order to deprive someone else the sick satisfaction of being the first person to return a copy of Thirteen Reasons Why, Jay did it himself.
JAY
Hello! I’d like to buy this, please.
MANAGER MIKE
Thirteen Reasons Why? That’s a fantastic book.
[Jay purchases his own book.]
JAY
Hmm… Y’know, this dialogue sounds awfully familiar.
I think I’ve read this before.
MANAGER MIKE
Actually, that book just came out.
JAY
No, I’m fairly certain I’ve read this before.
I’d like to return it, please.
MANAGER MIKE
Um…okay. If you’ll just fill out this form,
I’ll return your cash to you.
[Jay autographs the return slip.]
MANAGER MIKE
Here’s your cash back.
JAY
And here’s your book back.
I’m sure you’ll find a good home for it.
[Proof that the above transaction actually occurred.]
ROBIN
Oh, Thirteen Reasons Why! I’d like to buy that, please.
ROBIN’S SON [voice-over]
The more I hang out with the Mermaids,
the more this world bewilders me.
This past Sunday, I had my first official book signing.
Woo-hoo!Penguin sent 60 hardcover copies of
Thirteen Reasons Why to the Northern California Independent Booksellers Association trade show in Oakland. Every half-hour, four authors were scheduled to sign their books, and I was in the first batch o' four. I arrived early to help set-up my books, but they told me to relax and wait behind the curtains until they announced my name over the P.A. (That’s right…I was getting announced!)
“Jay Asher will now be signing copies of
Thirteen Reasons Why in the autograph area.”
- Jodie Christensen -
owner of the first autographed hardcover
copy of Thirteen Reasons Why
Here’s the line-up of that first autographing timeslot:
Michael Hoeye,
Scott Westerfeld,
Alice Walker, and Jay Asher. C’mon, sing along!
“One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong.”
Michael Hoeye (very cool guy) and I talked for a long time at the Penguin booth about the business-side of writing. Basically, I said things like, “Oh, absolutely. That’s been my experience, as well,” and, “Definitely. It’s
all about the facial hair and vertical stripes.”
For the first time, I felt like an official author. Booksellers I didn’t know were approaching me to share their feelings about my book. Or to tell me how many copies they ordered for their stores. Or to ask if I’d be interested in doing an in-store signing.
Yes, this is what it’s all about,
baby!When I got home, a FedEx package from Listening Library was waiting for me on my doorstep. Inside? Five copies of my audiobook! Here’s what disc five looks like:
What’s so special about disc five?
The ending! And if you don’t already know what I’m talking about,
check this out.
- Jay
One year ago today, my agent left me a voicemail asking me to call her back because we’d just received an offer on Thirteen Reasons Why (though it had a different title at the time).
The year since then has flown by faster than any I can remember, and I’ve learned more about myself in the past 365 days than ever before. Now we’re down to three-and-a-half weeks till the book is released, and I just wanted to take today to say thank you to Kristen, Robin & Eve, and JoanMarie.
I can not imagine a better editor for this project than Kristen Pettit. I don’t use air-quotes very often, but Kristen definitely “got” this book. From the subject matter to the characters, we were always on the same page. If only I'd gotten more sleep, the editing process would've been perfect.
And it would’ve been impossible to ask for a more beautiful and enthusiastic cheering squad than Robin and Eve. One thing about doing a group blog where we each post once a week is that a lot can happen between posts, and it’s always tempting to share the most exciting or cool or quirky news first. But Robin and Eve know the rest of the story. I can’t even count how many interventions they held (always at Linnaea’s Café) when I needed a pick-me-up this past year.
Finally, there’s a reason Thirteen Reasons Why is dedicated to my wife, JoanMarie. And even though I submitted the dedication page about ten months ago, that reason hasn’t wavered.
- Jay
BONUS POST: On Sunday, I got to touch a hardcover copy of my book for the very first time. It was absolutely beautiful. But get this! It wasn't a copy Penguin sent to me. And I didn’t find it in a bookstore. No, my dad found it on eBay.
It’s amazing what you can get for $0.99 + S&H.
In case you haven’t been paying attention, Jay’s debut novel,
Thirteen Reasons Why, comes out in less than a month. Like most authors for children and teens, there are a few frustrating questions he gets asked repeatedly. Usually, when confronted with such questions, his right eye begins to twitch and the questioner slowly backs away. But now he needs to start acting professionally and offer some well-thought-out answers.
In exchange for your help, we’re giving away three t-shirts produced by Penguin in honor of
Thirteen Reasons Why’s
starred-review in Kirkus. The back of the shirt includes the last line in that review, and Jay will now model the front of the shirt for you. (Jay, say, "
I love onions!")
photo courtesy of CynJay (no relation)Simply leave an answer to one of the following questions in the comment section of this post, and be sure to mention which question you’re answering. All answers must be submitted before Saturday. Early next week, we’ll announce the winners (we hope to choose one answer from each question...but, depending on hilarity, we reserve the right to award multiple shirts to the same question). All winners will also receive some spiffy
Thirteen Reasons Why bookmarks!
Enter as often as you'd like. But please, absolutely no more than that.
And now...
get snapping!
Snappy Answers to Frequently Frustrating Questions
Q&A #1Q: You wrote a book? Oh, what’s it about?
A: It’s a novel for teens that deals with suicide.
Q: For teens? Oh, teens are very visual. Did you do your own illustrations?
A: ???Q&A #2Q: You’re an author? You must like the
Harry Potter books, huh?
A: I do. They’re great.
Q: So then you’re going to make a ton of money, too, huh?
A: ???Q&A #3Q: You signed a two-book contract?
A: Yes. Yes, I did.
Q: So
Thirteen Reasons Why is going to be a series…like
Nancy Drew?
A: ???
My wife’s been out of the country for a week now, but she’ll be back in just over 48 hours…and I’m suffering! Within the past seven days, my masculinity has taken a couple of big-time hits. As a debut author, I couldn’t be happier about what happened. But as a man?
Let me explain.
At the end of last week, a friend told me to run to the nearest magazine rack and pick up a copy of Romantic Times Book Reviews. “R.T.B.R.?” I asked (pretending I was so familiar with the magazine that I was on an acronym-only basis…like L.O.T.R.).
There, on page 66, was this 4-out-of-5-star review (which also included a wonderful summary of Thirteen Reasons Why): Debut author Asher takes a sensitive topic -- teen suicide -- and doesn’t back down. [The] tale is engaging and the payoff’s worth it, though terribly sad.
And then today, someone e-mailed me a link to CosmoGIRL!, where they’re running an online ad for my book.
Honestly, I’m thrilled at the exposure the review and the ad offer, but my friends will never allow something like this to happen without commenting on it for months and months.
I think it's about time for a hunting trip, fellas!
That said, there’s a fabulous article I ran across in CosmoGIRL! that tells us why boys lie so damn much. Oh, and I absolutely can not wait to start reading The Boss’s Wife for a Week and Armed & Amorous.
- Jay
KIRKUS
Sept. 1, 2007
—
a starred review!!! —
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY “Everything affects everything,” declares Hannah Baker, who killed herself two weeks ago. After her death, Clay Jensen—who had a crush on Hannah—finds seven cassette tapes in a brown paper package on his doorstep. Listening to the tapes, Hannah chronicles her downward spiral and the 13 people who led her to make this horrific choice. Evincing the subtle—and not so subtle—cruelties of teen life, from rumors, to reputations, to rape, Hannah explains to her listeners that, “in the end, everything matters.” Most of the novel quite literally takes place in Clay’s head, as he listens to Hannah’s voice pounding in his ears through his headphones, creating a very intimate feel for the reader as Hannah explains herself. Her pain is gut-wrenchingly palpable, and the reader is thrust face-first into a world where everything is related, an intricate yet brutal tapestry of events, people and places. Asher has created an entrancing character study and a riveting look into the psyche of someone who would make this unfortunate choice. A brilliant and mesmerizing debut from a gifted new author.
Guess why I keep getting giddier and giddier the closer it gets to October 16th? I’ll give you two hints. One: I’ve been anticipating this moment for years. Two: It has to do with a certain book sitting on bookstore and library shelves all across the country. Give up? It’s the release date of
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography!
For the record: My book—
Thirteen Reasons Why—comes out two days later on October 18th…write it down.
I am a
huge Charles Schulz and Peanuts fan. It has a lot to do with the worldview portrayed in the comic strip that I always “got”…even when my friends thought comics were supposed to be straight-out hilarious or sarcastic. And the more I learned about the artist who spoke about this worldview, the more I began to understand my own creativity.
When I told Robin what this post was going to be about, she wanted to know specifics as to why I felt this connection to the artist and the strip. But I couldn’t tell her...because I couldn’t put it into words. Last year, my wife and I went to the
Charles M. Schulz museum in Santa Rosa, CA. There’s a nice theater in the museum and we sat through a documentary about Mr. Schulz as well as an interview he did with Charlie Rose. When the lights came on, my wife looked at me and said, “I get it now.” Maybe it’s time for a Disco Mermaid road-trip to Santa Rosa?
Fun fact: I hardly ever wear hats. But when
Thirteen Reasons Why was going through the week-long auction process, I wore a striped Charlie Brown hat (from the Schulz museum) every single day.
So while you’re all flipping through 200+ pages about a girl who commits suicide, I’ll be losing myself in 600+ pages about Charles “Sparky” Schulz. (Did you know he passed away mere hours before the newspaper containing the final Peanuts strip appeared on his doorstep? Talk about living for your art!)
- Jay
By the way,
Schulz and Peanuts: A Biography received a starred review in
Publishers Weekly.
This was the main character in a strip I created when I was 13.
This is the news I’ve been hoping to share since I was only halfway into the first draft of Thirteen Reasons Why. There are two poems in that book attributed to Hannah Baker, my main female character. The first poem is called If My Love… It’s a sappy/cheesy poem I originally wrote many years ago for an ex-girlfriend. The second poem, Soul Alone, is absolutely beautiful…and I’m not being cocky by saying that.
My wife just happens to be my favorite songwriter. And that works out real well, because I’m her favorite novelist…so long as Johnny Depp never gets a literary itch (because my wife would love to scratch it). When it came time to write Hannah’s “good” poem, the lyrics to one of my wife’s songs would not get out of my head. Then, one of those lightbulbs ignited over my head and I ran to our stereo. For a songwriting contest, my wife had recorded a bare-bones version of three of her songs…one of them being Soul Alone. And talk about eerie! The lyrics could have been written by Hannah Baker. In fact, I knew that if I tweaked the chapter in which the poem was supposed to appear, it would be an exact match (I wouldn’t dare ask my wife to change her lyrics). Then the lightbulb clicked itself one setting brighter. I knew, because of its premise, Thirteen Reasons Why was a natural for an audiobook. And if that happened, I told my wife, I would fight hard to get her song included as a bonus track…with her singing.
It turns out, I didn’t have to fight hard at all.
After signing the contract, I mentioned to Orli Moscowitz (the producer) that Soul Alone began as a song written by my wife, and that I had a recording of it if she’d like to take a listen. She agreed. I burned her a C.D. and mailed it the next day. She listened. She loved! And now…my wife is an official recording artist.
[We interrupt this blog post so that the author can dry his eyes.]
Below are some photos from the three hours my wife spent at Moon Productions & Recording Studio recording a more polished version of Soul Alone (hey...I’m a blogger…of course I made her document it). Bringing together some local musicians, she recorded a song which will bring Listening Library’s audio production of Thirteen Reasons Why to a perfect ending.
Darrell Voss (drums)
Terry Lawless (keyboards)
-- the dude actually tours with u2! --
Thomas Gingell (audio engineer)
My Honey
I can’t wait for you all to hear Soul Alone…written and sung by JoanMarie Asher.
- Jay
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Okay. So you were dressed up as that, uh...um... freakish fairy when you told those kids you wrote the book?! cute! I am cracking up!
Loved the description of your fun gifts to your co-workers. No doubt they are REALLY gonna miss you :)
And your wife DOES look like Hannah! But I already thought everyone knew that! That is too cool.
P.S. Meg is sitting here with me and she keeps wanting to giggle at "Mr. Jay's" goofball weird costume.
We are laying here in bed giggling like little girlies looking at you!! How did your friends keep a straight face around you. Especially with that glamorous headdress?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA
Oh Lordy be!
Wait, I want to hear the rest of the conversation with the trick-or-treater. Did she believe you? BTW, your wife looks awesome! Lamy
Your wife's costume is awesome. How cool that she was recognized. I wonder if the kids believed that you wrote the book. What a fantastically weird conversation!
OMG! JM looks amazing! Freaky...but AMAZING!!! You didn't tell me the part about the trick-or-treaters recognizing her. That's even MORE freaky!!!
Oh, and that Mr. Peabody toy was gross. I'm glad you gave it up.
:-)
Robin
The girl who recognized Hannah believed me fairly quickly...especially after I ran upstairs to retrieve bookmarks for her and her friends! I guess it'd be kind of weird (even for Halloween standards) to claim you wrote a book you didn't.
And I'm glad my freakish fairy amused your daughter, Katie!
- Jay
I dare you to wear your Halloween costume next week when you go grocery shopping.
Congratulations on entering full-time authordom!!!
LOL...that cracked me up Jay. I think you may have scarred those girls though. To find out that their new favorite book came from the demented freaky fairy.
I imagine they may have STOPPED reading the book after that traumatic experience.
I, too, am eager for the closing words between the disbelieving teen and your masked-to-the-world self. It's such a fabulous exchange.
I hope that your flying pigs don't miss you too much. I'm sure your library coworkers will.
I read the entire post saying "no way" louder and louder until I got to the end. Way.
Congrats, Jay!
May the road ahead be full of fun surprises.
Loved your wife's costume. I'm sure that will be a Halloween to remember, except maybe you'll want to forget about your costume. I'm just saying . . .
Best of luck!
Donna
Incredible story about the trick or treaters.
Alas -I had no dead dogs come to my door.
Congrats on all your success...
I just finished your book. I loved it! How cool that the trick-or-treaters recognized your wife as Hannah...I'm sure they'll never forget that! Please keep writing--our kids need great things to read!
That is one of the best 'it is so cool to be a writer' stories i have ever heard.
Oh, and your wife is a treasure!