Monday, March 31, 2008

Week 4 - Ask Pat

We are coming to the end of the novel and I'm sure that you have some comments for the author. Go ahead and leave a comment - she is answering any question you have. We know you have a question so go ahead and ASK PAT!

Please leave your answer below by click on the "comments" link and then responding using your pen name under your comment and then selecting "anonymous" Please use correct grammar and remember to not include your first and last name.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who was your favorite character in the book?

- WCAHans

Anonymous said...

I don't really have any questions, but i just wanted to let you know that I have finished to book, and even though I don't like reading, I really did enjoy this book.

WCASami

Anonymous said...

How did you find out about Jesse Jame's life before he was an outlaw?

WCAjonathan

Pat Hughes said...

To WCASami -

You know, I've often said, that's my favorite comment to get from a reader! I'm so glad you liked the book!

- Pat

Pat Hughes said...

To WCA Jonathan -

Books! Books like "Jesse James Was His Name" by William Settle; "Jesse James Was My Neighbor," by Homer Croy; "Jesse James, My Father," by Jesse's only son, Jesse Edwards James; "In the Shadow of Jesse James," written by the woman who married Jesse's son. These are just some of the books that helped me piece together what information existed ... and then, of course, lots and lots of imagination because don't forget that while I used many historical facts and research, "Guerrilla Season" is a work of fiction.

- Pat

Pat Hughes said...

To WCAHans -

Definitely Matt. No, Jesse. No, Matt. No, Jesse. No ...

- Pat

Anonymous said...

Are you thinking about writing another book? If so I can't wait to read it. This ending made me want more and think about their future life during and after the war.


softballgrly

Anonymous said...

Hey Pat.. how is it going?...
i wanted to ask you that how long did it take you to finish the book?

Limegreen23

Anonymous said...

This is far back in the start of the book but i just am wondering why they wouldnt name the cats in the start cause i love cats and i think they should have named the kittys in the book because why would you not love a cherished kitty
WCA kittyman

Pat Hughes said...

To Softballgrly:

Yes! Look back in the questions from Week #3 for a more detailed answer.

To Limegreen -

Your question also was answered earlier, so check back, possibly to Week #1.

- Pat

Anonymous said...

i am a musician and like to learn things about old instruments and such, but how did you figure out that the mandalyn was a comon instrument for the time.

RRoads

Anonymous said...

Have you ever been to Clay County?

Squirtle

Anonymous said...

Hey Pat,

Why did you decide to write a book about this time period??


Charmander

Anonymous said...

What inspired you to write this book?

Jayhawk

Anonymous said...

Why would you end the book with Matt and Jesse seperating; because i think it would have been cooler if they would have came back together after the war was over and would have told there stories to eachother the time that they have been separated.

-WSM-

Anonymous said...

I was disappointed with his decision to leave.

JBones

Pat Hughes said...

To WSM -

Well, how long of a book would you have wanted to read? ;-)

My idea is to have future books continue Matt & Jesse's story, which I talked about higher in this thread.

- Pat

Pat Hughes said...

To RRoads -

Interesting question! I have to be entirely truthful ... it's more than seven years since I was doing the basic research for "GS," so I don't remember how I found out about the mandolin! I just recall that I learned that the mandolin was, maybe not a common instrument at the time, but definitely used, and I thought it would be interesting to have Clayton play something that wasn't more common, such as a fiddle or a banjo.

I think it's cool that you're interested in old instruments!

- Pat

Pat Hughes said...

To the Pokemon (Squirtle & Charmander) and Jayhawk -

Your questions were all answered in Week One, so check there!

- Pat

Pat Hughes said...

WCA Kittyman -

Great question. Back then in rural America, cats were often just another farm animal - their main purpose was to keep the area free of rodents. Just as Matt doesn't name the chickens, he wouldn't have named the cats. It's entirely possible that Molly might have had her own "pet names" for the cats, though.

- Pat

Pat Hughes said...

To JBones -

I'm sorry!!

- Pat

Anonymous said...

Where you like emotionally stressed writing this book because of the hurt and pain people went through? I know when I write stories I get emotionally stressed because when you write things you mentally kind of go through it too. At least that's what happens when I write stories..

WCADelana

Pat Hughes said...

WCA Delana -

Absolutely, I was very stressed while writing "Guerrilla Season." When I was deep into the research and the writing, reading about nothing but human pain, sadness, misery and "man's inhumanity to man," it was really overwhelming. My children were little at the time - 1st and 3rd grade - and I would write all day until the minute I heard the school bell, and then I'd rush up to the school to meet them (only a couple of blocks away) and it would be like, "Ah, life!" I would literally feel myself stepping out of that era and back into the present.

I think it's very perceptive for someone your age to realize this! (You ARE a student, aren't you?) Especially that notion that "when you write things you mentally go through it, too." You sound like a writer!

- Pat

Anonymous said...

I was wondering if you wrote any other books that have been published already, because I would love to read another book written by you. I enjoyed Guerrilla Season so much!

-Tater Bear

Anonymous said...

Dear Pat,

How did you come to the decision of inserting Jesse James as a character into the book?

Le Bron