Interview with Julie Kenner, author of "The Givenchy Code"

Mark Mackey

Q: What inspires the story ideas you come up with?

Well, that's hard to say.  Really anything can inspire a story, but usually with me it's a plot idea first.  With the Givenchy Code series, I wanted to do a "race for the clues" kind of book.  A suspense version of a treasure hunt, basically, and I liked the idea of a math geek who had to follow a series of math-related clues.  That basic kernel made me ask the question:  who's sending the clues.  In the original idea (that never made it to paper), the puppetmaster was an elderly man, a control freak, who Mel had somehow spurned.  That idea didn't gel, though, and when I was poking around on the Net one day the idea of the MMRPG concept sprang up.  It fit, and I ran with it.

With the demon series, the character came first:  a soccer mom who has a secret life as a demon hunter for the Vatican.  In that case, the inspiration came from me (new mom at the time) and my brainstorming for a romance series (I thought of a group of male demon hunters).  The two ideas mushed together and, voila!, Kate was born. 

Q:: Do you prefer writing at morning or night?

I prefer morning, but I can't, as I homeschool my two children.  So by default, I write at night.  Usually very late into the night. 

Q: How do you go about doing your writing? 

Again, it really depends on the book.  Sometimes, I dive in, go a few chapters, and then step back and do a rough outline of the story.  Other times, I'll start with the outline and go from there.  In those instances, I spend a lot of time thinking about the characters and the plot and putting notes in either a note card program (new to me) or just randomly into a synopsis that I'll eventually flesh out to narrative form. 

Q: Do you write a long, detailed outline, detailing each chapter individually? Or do you write out a brief 5-20 page synopsis of the entire novel?

I've never outlined the specific chapters.  What I often do is write a very detailed narrative of how the primary plot plays out (and any major subplots).  Sometimes, I'll outline what I call sequences.  Some books (Givenchy included) didn't have an outline at all, just "signposts" that I knew I needed to put in along the way. 

Q: What was the way you planned out The Givenchy Code before you started writing it?

Considering the clues and bits and pieces in the story, it's a bit surprising to look back and realize that I really didn't plan it out.  I knew where I wanted to start and where I wanted to get, and how I wanted to get there (sort of), but mostly, I just took it scene by scene, almost letting the movie play out in my head.  Putting the clues (and locations) together was the most fun! 

Q: In what category, or genre do you consider your novels to be placed in?

Paranormal or suspense or romance, though I have some coming up that are pure urban fantasy.  Again, it really depends on the book.  I've written across the board! 

Q: Is The Givenchy Code, or any of your other novels going to be made into films?

I've had nibbles with The Givenchy Code series, but nothing that has fleshed out (fingers crossed, though, as I think it could be a fun movie!).  The demon hunting series was optioned by Warner Brothers and 1492 Pictures, and 1492 is still working to get a script together, so that is still a possibility.  I have another book (an anthology with Johanna Edwards and Serena Robar) called Fendi, Ferragamo, & Fangs that has been optioned, and the producers are looking to package it.  And a new series that's in the work already has some television interest, so fingers crossed! 

Q: Is there anything you do before you start writing, like walking, biking, before you start writing?

Escape from the kids!! 

Q: Do you plan on writing any more novels in The Givenchy Code series?

Nope.  The series was planned as a trilogy.  Though I do love the world and that style of story (one clue to another clue to another clue).  So at some point, I may write something similar. 

Q: Do you have anything to say to other novelists?

Just that you should never get so lost in your own work that you forget (or claim not to have time) to read the work of others.  For unpublished novelists, reading is the best education for how to craft a story.  For published novelists, ditto (does education ever end?) and we need the escape from our own minds!

To learn more about Julie Kenner, visit her website at www.juliekenner.com.