Richard's Animorphs Forum

Animorphs Section => Animorphs Forum Classic => Topic started by: adamjared on October 23, 2008, 11:30:09 PM

Title: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visit PREVIOUS QUESTIONS
Post by: adamjared on October 23, 2008, 11:30:09 PM
Here are the previously asked questions.

QUESTIONS ALREADY ASKED

Shorter Answers

RAF: Did you like the TV show’s interpretation of the books?
K&M: We didn't like the TV show much. We were upset that they went live action rather than animated because we knew they wouldn't have the budget to do it well. Doing it right would have been very, very expensive. What they ended up with was rubber Andalite heads on sticks. I think we watched two episodes.

RAF: How is it that none of the Animorphs have ever been taken to see a therapist? Especially once the war is over?
K&M:  Why no therapy? Probably because when we started writing Animorphs we didn't have kids of our own. We were sort of guessing about parent-kid relationships, and I don't think the notion of therapy ever entered our consciousness. When we were kids there was no such thing as therapy for kids -- although we probably would both have profited from it. Of course now we have kids, so . . . Our son was born right around Animorphs #11. Our daughter came along post-Ani.

RAF:  Why did you choose the name Jake for the leader?
K&M: You should bear in mind that we're talking 12 years ago or so when we were first creating Animorphs. It's like a lifetime since then. As far as either of us can recall it was the usual process of going through a baby name book and going, "how about Dirk . . . how about Jason . . . Okay, let's try something in the M's . . ."
Jake just seemed like a strong, masculine name. We definitely didn't name them after anyone we know. Oddly enough our son -- who came along later -- is also Jake. But again it came down to a baby name book and the realization that it was a good, strong, sort of timeless name. We were frankly a little embarrassed, naming our son after our "hero," because we worried people would think we'd named him after the other Jake, and that would be just a wee bit weird.

RAF : Are you ok with the fact we're making the series as e-books and sharing them?
K&M: We're not sure how to feel about that. We've never had a problem with fanfic like some writers do. Rather the contrary. It's flattering and fun and good practice for aspiring writers.
But there is of course a legal problem with distributing copyrighted materials in this way. We obviously aren't going to be suing or threatening or any of that. In fact, we think on balance it's probably a good thing.
But you should understand that Scholastic also has rights here, and they may take a more aggressive position. And you need to understand that we can't "tell" Scholastic to let it go: they have their own ownership rights, and they've invested a lot of money in Animorphs. So we couldn't give you permission if we wanted to, we don't have the legal right to do so.

RAF: Do you think that Animorphs will ever make it to the big screen?
K&M: There is a reasonably serious move under way to do a big budget Animorphs movie. By that we mean that a producer has contacted us and let us know that he would be pitching the idea to the studios -- as soon as the WGA strike is over. The producers are serious guys. The studios they are going after are people who could actually pull it off. But right now it's still probably a 20 to 1 shot. Keep your fingers crossed. I'll say this: the producer is a serious Anifan.

RAF: How long did you originally intend the series to be and when you started did you have the same ending planned out that ultimately happened?
K&M: We didn't know. I think we signed for 3 books at first, then more, then more still. We figured we'd keep going as long as Scholastic would send us contracts. But at some point we thought, "Okay, that's enough."

RAF: are you going to be a permant resident here on this forum or are you just passing though?
K&M: We're never permanent.

RAF: why did you make so many Animorph books?
K&M: We wrote til we burned out. That's the truth.

RAF: How many copies have been sold of Animorphs?
K&M: We've heard the number 30 million from Scholastic, but who knows? That sounds about right. Animorphs #1 broke 2 million.

RAF: Do you ever plan to release the Animorphs 'Bible' that you've referenced in prior interviews, or is that completely up to Scholastic?
K&M: Nah. M doesn't want anyone laughing at his drawings.

RAF: What do you think of the audiobook project, and would you like to play someone?
K&M: That'd be something we can't officially sanction or participate in.

RAF: Were there any Animorphs stories you really wanted to write but couldn't?
K&M: No. The editors never vetoed anything. We wrote what we felt like writing.

RAF: Why where you so cruel to tobias by taking rachel away from him?
K&M: Tobias was destined for a life of sadness, don't you think? But there was always nobility in his sadness. As for Rachel, she was the ultimate warrior: without a war to fight, what would she have done? And what better way for her to go than by fighting a desperate battle against impossible odds?

RAF: when you started writing the series did you know it would be a war story with the characters having to face moral dilemmas?
K&M: Yeah, we always thought it was kind of like this very old TV show called "Combat!" It was about this tight little platoon of soldiers in WW2.

RAF: If you somehow actually met your characters in real life, what advice would you give each of them?
K&M: Hmmm. We don't think we'd give them any advice. They all did much better than either of us would have. Maybe some romantic advice. To Jake: go ahead and kiss the girl.

RAF: How much input did you have with the ghostwriters? Did you give them something like a detailed plot summary and told them to fill in whatever needed to be, did you tell them a few main points and then leave the rest up to them, or did you just say something like "Go write a Marco book" and let them go to town? And also how did you choose the ghost writers? (assuming that you did) Were they personal friends or just another struggling writer looking for a job?
K&M: The ghosts worked for us. That was our deal from the start. Most often when a series goes to ghosts it's run by the publisher or a packager. But our ghosts were our "employees." That having been said, we loosened the grip in later books and gave more responsibility to an editor who was employed by us. Then we came back and wrote the last 2 books. We also wrote all Chronicles and Megamorphs. We sent detailed outlines, but also strongly encouraged ghosts to come up with ideas of their own.

RAF: What was your favorite book in the series and why?
K&M: Probably Book #4, the dolphin book. That's when we realized we had the rhythm of the series down, and started having fun. Also the one where Cassie dies until she comes back via butterfly morph. (Sorry, we never recall the book titles)

RAF: What was your inspiration for Remnants?
K&M: Remnants was a strange situation. Basically, Everworld was very hard to write. It was long. It was complex. 200 plus pages per month as opposed to 140 for Animorphs. It was too much. When Everworld wasn't really a hit we suggested to Scholastic that we switch to a new series, a shorter series. They agreed. Remnants was, in the start, about the sort of vague notion of using art as a milieu. That plus blowing up the world of course.

RAF: Did you ever thought of using the alien race of the Garatrons from book #37 The Weakness again before the series ended?
K&M: You want to bear in mind that we were writing at such a speed throughout this period that we often created things and then lost track of them.

RAF: Who is your favorite character that you've created?
K&M: Hmm, favorite character? Probably Tobias, just because he was unique. We loved the idea that he was trapped in morph, so lonely, so estranged from everything. Plus he could fly! But we like all the characters. Cassie is probably most like K and Marco is most like M.

RAF: Are you proud of the outcome of your stories or do you wish that is had gotten media attention like Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings.
K&M: Animorphs was this really great thing in our lives. We sold 30 million books, made a lot of money, had some fame, had a lot of fun. When we started we were broke and depressed and defeated. We'd be fools to complain about not being as popular as Harry or LOTR. We've been nothing but lucky, and we are nothing but grateful. Especially to all of you readers.

RAF: Who burned down Joe Bob Fenestre's house in #16?
K&M: You know, sometimes when we leave it a mystery for readers it's because it's a mystery to us, too. We love leaving people guessing. It leaves us guessing, too.

RAF: which book was your favorite and why?
K&M: Earlier I mentioned #4 and the butterfly book. So I'll add a third: Hork-Bajir Chronicles.

RAF: In book #4, The Message, Ax tells the Animorphs that, "The way the lake curves forward into the grass, framed by derrishoul trees," is called "enos ermarf" in the Andalite language. I couldn't help but notice that this was an anagram for "farmer nose." So I was wondering, was this kind of word play in alien names a one-time thing, or are there more puns and things of this type I should be looking out for?
Darth:
K&M: I don't think that was a deliberate anagram, but we have definitely done that. Neither of us can recall any but the well-known "Nothlit" thing. We used to live across from the Minneapolis Hilton and stared at the "Hilton" sign as we wrote. Nothlit is Hilton rearranged a bit.


Longer Answers

RAF:  If you still remember, where exactly did you get the idea for the series? Was it just one of those "oh hey that would be pretty cool" ideas that you wrote on a napkin one day?
K&M:  We remember that very, very well.
We'd been writing for a while, having very moderate success with YA romances like Boyfriends/Girlfriends. We weren't quite broke but we were pretty close to it. We were living at the time in an apartment complex called Plantation Gardens in Sarasota Florida. It was hot, of course, and we were walking, trying to get some exercize, doing it at night because it was hot.
We were both a bit bummed. We didn't want to keep writing YA romance. We wanted to get into a younger age group. We wanted to write something more fun. K wanted to write single titles. M argued for giving series one more try. We discussed what we'd write, in a perfect world -- assuming we were staying with series. K said she wanted to write something about animals, especially something that would really show animals as they are, realistically, something that would really let readers get into the animal's mindset.
We both thought: okay, kids that turn into animals, that would be neat. Then M said, In order for that to be a series we'd need a science fiction premise. The animal powers would have to be used for something dramatic.
It took just a couple of days for all the rest of it to come together. We created a "series bible," with character bios, plot, some rough outlines. M actually included hand-drawn pix of space craft and aliens. We sent the idea to Scholastic. The letter ended with, "This is a cool idea." In a shockingly quick two weeks they wrote back and said yes.
Kind of a major turning point in our lives, along with when we first met, when K said "let's write," and when K said, "Let's have kids."

RAF: What advice would you give to other aspiring writers out there?
K&M: Well, first of all, forget the usual advice about writing what you know, or even being an obsessive reader. The first requirement -- and it's tough news to have to deliver -- is to have some innate talent. We don't know if that's a function of DNA or environment, most likely a bit of both. But if you don't have some basic talent you won't make it.
That having been said, you don't need to be F. Scott Fitzgerald. You can start with a "B-" in talent and still have a very nice career, if you work very hard. If you are relentless. If you are willing to adapt. If you can get knocked down seven times and stand up eight.
But it's not a great life for most people. It's a solitary occupation. No one who is not a writer will ever understand your job, so unless you have the good luck to be married to a writer -- as we are, obviously -- you are all on your own.
You have no one else to impose discipline on you, to make you work. You have no health plan, no retirement plan, no unemployment insurance. No one will hold a benefit concert for you when you go broke, and the overwhelming majority of writers are broke. You almost never know where or when or if your next paycheck is coming.
There is zero glamor. Zero. Maybe twice in ten years someone has said, "Wait a minute, are you K. A. Applegate?" There is no rock star aspect to it. Writing is you, and a cup of coffee (and a cigar in M's case,) and a laptop, typing. Tap tap tap, three hours a day for most writers. It's a short work day, that'd be one of the plusses. You work for months or even years and when you're all done you have a book and the odds then are probably 99% that you will never sell it. That no one will ever read it.
You'll get dumped on by agents and editors. You will get rejected with curt, dismissive form letters. If you do manage to get published the odds are overwhelming that you won't make as much money as you would waiting tables or doing any decent job.
So, the first thing you need to ask yourself is: is that the life I want? If it is, fine, go for it. But there are a lot fewer people making a decent living writing books than there are making a living as surgeons or corporate lawyers or bankers. I guarantee you that the odds of you getting into Harvard Law School and graduating are better than your odds of supporting yourself by, say, writing kids books. Think about that, and how hard it is to get through Harvard Law.
So, you have to have talent, and you have to work hard, and you have to have some market savvy, and you have to get lucky. I know that as writers we're supposed to be encouraging, but since you asked we'll do you the favor of being honest and not give you the usual bs answer.
If you still want to be a writer, you'll find there are a dozen different approaches. But basically it all boils down to this: write. Write a story. Read it back. Listen to it. Rewrite it. Repeat until you think you've got it right. Make sure it has some plausibility in the market. Submit it and see if anyone buys it.
Not exactly encouraging advice. But honest.

Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: esplin on October 23, 2008, 11:35:25 PM
im sure we would all like that :]
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Essam 293 on October 23, 2008, 11:35:45 PM
First off, welcome back!

Second, yeah, of course that'd be great. Though I have a feeling that they might temporarily decline. I logged onto Facebook a little while ago and Michael Grant's page says that him and the family are moving yet again. They're going from Italy to Irvine now, I believe.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: morfowt on October 24, 2008, 05:35:56 AM
Well I got no questions to ask (strangely enough). I don't really ask too many questions about a story. if there's something I don't get, I just figure it out myself...but I'm getting a bit off topic.

the point: I don't mind too much if they don't come back, but I think some of the newer active members (like azguard and -1-2-3-) might like a chance to ask KA some questions...
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Nateosaurus on October 24, 2008, 07:05:09 AM
Of course it'd be great if they came back.
(What are you, NUTS?) :)

I couldn't think of any questions last time, and I still don't have any though.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Duff on October 24, 2008, 10:09:37 AM
Yea who wouldn't want them to come answer some more questions.

Well I got no questions to ask (strangely enough). I don't really ask too many questions about a story. if there's something I don't get, I just figure it out myself...but I'm getting a bit off topic.

the point: I don't mind too much if they don't come back, but I think some of the newer active members (like azguard and -1-2-3-) might like a chance to ask KA some questions...

Its not about asking random factual questions about the series, its about getting the behind the scenes questions answered that you couldn't figure out for yourself. You didn't find the old q&a interesting?
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Phoenix004 on October 24, 2008, 12:19:31 PM
I can't think of anything specific to ask them right now, but it would be AWESOME if they came back, even if it was just on occasion.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Shock on October 24, 2008, 01:06:48 PM
can we just limit the questions so that they don't get swarmed like last time?

that thread was just drowning in a sea of people.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Phoenix004 on October 24, 2008, 02:00:14 PM
I agree Shock. Maybe we could have it so that only one question can be asked at a time? Then we all have to wait for an answer before another question can be asked.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Essam 293 on October 24, 2008, 02:03:29 PM
The thing is though that no one really listened to that the last time, especially when the word got out and a swarm of newbies joined up. Maybe Richard could put up a new thread where you guys would have to approve all the messages before being posted in that thread? I'm not sure if there's a function for that, but it's just a thought.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Terenia on October 24, 2008, 05:02:43 PM
Maybe questions should be sent to a moderator or someone first who can then filter out repeats, ones with obvious answers already discussed, etc. and post all of the questions in one thread? That way KA and Grant don't have to go looking through post after post...
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Phoenix004 on October 24, 2008, 05:05:08 PM
Maybe questions should be sent to a moderator or someone first who can then filter out repeats, ones with obvious answers already discussed, etc. and post all of the questions in one thread? That way KA and Grant don't have to go looking through post after post...

That's not a bad idea.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Shock on October 24, 2008, 07:03:34 PM
Maybe questions should be sent to a moderator or someone first who can then filter out repeats, ones with obvious answers already discussed, etc. and post all of the questions in one thread? That way KA and Grant don't have to go looking through post after post...

That's not a bad idea.

ya! it's a good idea because now we have someone to blame when something goes wrong!
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: demos666 on October 24, 2008, 07:06:30 PM
i like the idea
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: wolfev on October 24, 2008, 07:17:18 PM
Look, how about a question forum for potential questions. Of course that would go horribly wrong. Whatever
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: morfowt on October 24, 2008, 07:24:07 PM
Yea who wouldn't want them to come answer some more questions.

Well I got no questions to ask (strangely enough). I don't really ask too many questions about a story. if there's something I don't get, I just figure it out myself...but I'm getting a bit off topic.

the point: I don't mind too much if they don't come back, but I think some of the newer active members (like azguard and -1-2-3-) might like a chance to ask KA some questions...

Its not about asking random factual questions about the series, its about getting the behind the scenes questions answered that you couldn't figure out for yourself. You didn't find the old q&a interesting?
like what?
anything i can't figure out I just create my own answer.
and honestly, a lot of the questions I wouldn't ask...
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Gafrash on October 24, 2008, 08:06:30 PM
I am sorry, I don't know everyone here, so didn't know who'd been gone and back.
But I'd like to say that it would be AWESOME TO HAVE INTERACTION WITH THE THE AUTHORS. Do you reckon they would drop a line every now and again?!
Are they actually living in Italia? I thought they lived in the US.

I imagine people would overwhelm them with questions, too. I would be willing to compromise someone controlling what questions I ask for the sake of not having a wave of overwhelming same-but-different repeat questions for them to answer. Plus, I'd like to know that I don't even know what 'the other' forum in which you guys say they used to frequent, was like, so, I think such feat might actually be unavoidable.
But in the end, if K.A. and Michael are using the forum, isn't it really more up to them to choose which questions to answer???
Why don't we just limit everyone's questions to a few. Is a moderator able to lock the thread until the few questions are replied/answered. And this moderator could also cancel out repeat questions and the likes.
I am just thinking, that not all the writings would be questions, you know.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Nateosaurus on October 25, 2008, 05:17:37 AM
Yes, it would be a bit daunting to come onto a forum knowing there are a bunch of fans who want to bombard you with questions.
There should be a limit to questions or something, plus some of the same questions from last time might get asked again.

I'm just still so excited K.A. watched my video :) and commented! woo yea.  8)

To me thats better than getting questions answered, lol. I'm really surprised that I still do not have a single one to ask.

I know that personally, if I was an author, I'd definately want to talk to my fans, and no, its not about the ego trip of having people praise you :P
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Gafrash on October 25, 2008, 08:59:35 AM
Hey, Claire v2.0, which video was that?! Is there a link still?
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Duff on October 25, 2008, 11:18:27 AM
yea claire, that video is big in the animorphs community lol seriously

if they did come again we should have a thread to suggest questions and then one person decides on the best and posts one at a time, giving credit to the one who asked it
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: adamjared on October 25, 2008, 11:39:50 AM
I am sorry, I don't know everyone here, so didn't know who'd been gone and back.
But I'd like to say that it would be AWESOME TO HAVE INTERACTION WITH THE THE AUTHORS. Do you reckon they would drop a line every now and again?!
Are they actually living in Italia? I thought they lived in the US.

I imagine people would overwhelm them with questions, too. I would be willing to compromise someone controlling what questions I ask for the sake of not having a wave of overwhelming same-but-different repeat questions for them to answer. Plus, I'd like to know that I don't even know what 'the other' forum in which you guys say they used to frequent, was like, so, I think such feat might actually be unavoidable.
But in the end, if K.A. and Michael are using the forum, isn't it really more up to them to choose which questions to answer???
Why don't we just limit everyone's questions to a few. Is a moderator able to lock the thread until the few questions are replied/answered. And this moderator could also cancel out repeat questions and the likes.
I am just thinking, that not all the writings would be questions, you know.


I used to moderate the topic, back in the days when I was an administrator... But ya I like the responses people are having to this Idea!
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Starsword on October 25, 2008, 11:52:20 PM
Yeah it would be sweet if they came back. On the other hand, there are so many questions I don't want answered, because as a community we already sort of have, whether right or wrong, Animorphs is as much ours to determine as theirs.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Gafrash on October 26, 2008, 03:16:33 AM
Yeah it would be sweet if they came back. On the other hand, there are so many questions I don't want answered, because as a community we already sort of have, whether right or wrong, Animorphs is as much ours to determine as theirs.

WHOA, Starsword, I say 'AMEN' to what you said above there! I mean, here I am, almost a decade after reading the series and am still fascinated and am still pondering about it!!!
I totally agree!
But I also agree with the fact that some things are best left 'open' or 'abstract' to feed our imagination.
Like, the Visser morphs, never having seen one, and only counting on the description of the Animorphs, I could only imagine the extra-terrestrial creatures the Visser was turning into through K.A.s words. Trying to come up with a 'visual' on paper seems to kill all the different possibilities an Antarean Bogg looks like in our each and individual minds.
It's why I also kinda liked the ending being open. It's like a respect the authors had for our imagination, in a way. I find closure in the fact that the authors had your statement in mind when they made Jake ram the Bladeship!
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: esplin on October 26, 2008, 10:10:29 AM
Yeah it would be sweet if they came back. On the other hand, there are so many questions I don't want answered, because as a community we already sort of have, whether right or wrong, Animorphs is as much ours to determine as theirs.

i really agree with that one.  i think the authors kinda feel the same way as well
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: adamjared on October 26, 2008, 02:22:19 PM
well i copies all of the already asked questions into the first post. so you can read them there.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Gafrash on October 28, 2008, 04:48:57 AM
Hey, TheEllimist, thanks for posting those, dude. I found they were all valid and interesting questions. Stuff that every fan pondered at one point. The behind the scenes stuff... The choices they've made throughout the development of the series. The part about the ghostwriters. The stuff on the anagrams.
But I really look up to her for how she humbly took her time to answer those questions. Rare is an author that does that. Really kind of her. I imagine a swarm of those questions would have been a killer.
Would be cool to find out where her and Michael are at in their 'writer' projects now.

Funny what K.A. said on the e-books topic. I imagine they would have similar reservations about us doing an Ani Graphic Novel.
Don't really know what an e-book is, by the way. ::)
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Duff on October 28, 2008, 01:40:05 PM

Don't really know what an e-book is, by the way. ::)

You can read all of the Animorphs books online, right here, for free lol (and a few remnants and everworld books)

Michael was talking on stupidblogname about online books and how they would be a cheap and profitable way to re-release old books, so maybe they'll end up doing that with animorphs (we'd probably have to take it down from here if that happened)
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: zaprowsdower on October 28, 2008, 04:13:49 PM
Let's hope not. :P
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: goom on October 28, 2008, 04:14:51 PM
yeah, that's really suck. especially after all the effort you guys put into getting them up in the first place.

it'd be a real shame. :-\
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: adamjared on October 28, 2008, 05:45:46 PM
Hey, TheEllimist, thanks for posting those, dude. I found they were all valid and interesting questions. Stuff that every fan pondered at one point. The behind the scenes stuff... The choices they've made throughout the development of the series. The part about the ghostwriters. The stuff on the anagrams.
But I really look up to her for how she humbly took her time to answer those questions. Rare is an author that does that. Really kind of her. I imagine a swarm of those questions would have been a killer.
Would be cool to find out where her and Michael are at in their 'writer' projects now.

Funny what K.A. said on the e-books topic. I imagine they would have similar reservations about us doing an Ani Graphic Novel.
Don't really know what an e-book is, by the way. ::)

Ok you guys don't know something.

Both KA and Michael Grant worked on Animorphs, they just put her name on the books. if you notice in her dedications page, she says: "For Michael."  That's Michael Grant.

So, it wasn't always Katherine replying, it was Michael too. And judging by the way that the answers were given, i think that MG answered most of them.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Nateosaurus on October 29, 2008, 06:47:20 AM
Hey, Claire v2.0, which video was that?! Is there a link still?
Whoa, sorry I'm a little late with this reply.

This video sucks, but I think I got a few more people joining RAF...

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=YWg6fANkZYk
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: zaprowsdower on October 29, 2008, 07:00:39 PM
Weird that there's, like, nothing on her channel page. ???
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Gafrash on November 19, 2008, 08:53:45 PM
That was really kewl, Claire! GO THE AUSSIES ON RAF!!! Heheheh!
It was so random and cool how she actually posted. Hehehe!
Have you been up to any more recent Ani-things? Do you guys think K.A. still uses that account?
Title: Re: KA & MG LOCATION UPDATE
Post by: adamjared on December 03, 2008, 01:01:46 PM
http://sidewaysmencken.blogspot.com/2008/11/home-to-america.html

http://stupidblogname.com/2008/11/not-about-inspiration/#more-205

they moved back to cali.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Richard on December 03, 2008, 01:18:10 PM
Hey, Claire v2.0, which video was that?! Is there a link still?
Whoa, sorry I'm a little late with this reply.

This video sucks, but I think I got a few more people joining RAF...

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=YWg6fANkZYk
It would be nice to update the info on that video... from richardsani.conforu ms.com - to - animorphsforum.com/forum ;)
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: rossabo on December 03, 2008, 01:29:46 PM
http://sidewaysmencken.blogspot.com/2008/11/home-to-america.html

http://stupidblogname.com/2008/11/not-about-inspiration/#more-205

they moved back to cali.
That's awesome! Maybe I'll bump into them at some point, since I live in SoCal (when not at college).

Michael seems like a pretty funny guy! Hopefully they will enjoy California again.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Duff on December 03, 2008, 01:35:05 PM
Quote
That’s an excellent question there, theoretical interlocutor. And I have an inadequate answer: I thought I might change. I thought I might slow down, take on less work, stop and smell the flowers. Instead, in the seven months I’ve been here I’ve gone from one book a year and one blog, to two books a year and three blogs. And I’m angling for a third book a year. And I want to start doing a lot more promo. And I’m tangentially involved in a new technology company. Plus I’m thinking of getting involved in book packaging. And e-books. And I’d love to learn how to write scripts.

Come on, who else is thinking the same thing as I am?

It would be so cool if they wrote an animorphs script, that would give it such a cool feel.

And even if they don't, I would love to see any movie that Michael can come up with, hes great.



Michael seems like a pretty funny guy! Hopefully they will enjoy California again.

He is a really funny guy lol you should read all his other blog posts they are really entertaining
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Dameg on December 06, 2008, 04:38:51 AM
They moved again?!! >_<
Oh, because of their Visa...
Well... I hope they had fun in Italy ^^
And about the subject: OF COURSE I'd like they come back too!
They left the old RAF just when I arrived! So I'd like they come here sometimes, even if not often, then we can ask them some questions... And they could see the Graphic novel, for example ^^
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: KOFSoldier on January 14, 2009, 07:22:57 PM
I hate to say this, but..........I think they are just ready to let Animorphs go, and be done with it. If so, I guess I cant blame them, but if not.........WOOHOO!
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Anyalee-Sirinial-Isthil on January 15, 2009, 06:46:38 AM
I've never read that interview before! It was great!!!  I have no real questions except maybe, what were her feelings behind Ax's character?

Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: KOFSoldier on January 15, 2009, 06:51:06 AM
Rossabo, you live in SoCal? What's it like? I always wanted to move there one day.

Funny thing is, the Animorphs live in SoCal, too.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Uza-chan on January 16, 2009, 10:21:12 PM
That was a really cute vid Claire XD I love the t-shirt :D

As for the interview, if I'm having memory loss and have not commented on it before, super cool! I hope they make an animorph movie  ;D
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Starsword on January 16, 2009, 11:14:42 PM
But I also agree with the fact that some things are best left 'open' or 'abstract' to feed our imagination.
Like, the Visser morphs, never having seen one, and only counting on the description of the Animorphs, I could only imagine the extra-terrestrial creatures the Visser was turning into through K.A.s words. Trying to come up with a 'visual' on paper seems to kill all the different possibilities an Antarean Bogg looks like in our each and individual minds.
It's why I also kinda liked the ending being open. It's like a respect the authors had for our imagination, in a way.

I was sad when I saw that poster that had alot of the aliens drawn on it. If i remember right, it had venber and they were not what i expected and I was bummed.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: rossabo on January 31, 2009, 06:00:39 PM
Rossabo, you live in SoCal? What's it like? I always wanted to move there one day.

Funny thing is, the Animorphs live in SoCal, too.
Well, the weather is excellent if you live by the beaches/city (although terribly hot in the valley where I live). We don't really have forests like they had in the books, which leads me to believe that the city was more like a Northern/Mid California city, such as Santa Cruz.

But anyways, the LA empire is ridiculously huge. There are a lot of good business opportunities here, but unfortunately, it is generally expensive to live here. I like the Northern Californian personalities more than the Southern Californian personalities, because NorCalifornians have a more easygoing hippie/wine connoisseur mentality than the serious business/extremely aspiring mentality of SoCalifornians.

Also, we have the movie industry here in LA. I have been working as an extra for TV shows, and it is fun to go to the movie studios and see all of the sets that your favorite movies were shot in.

Anyways, regarding K.A. visiting the forum again, I highly doubt it. It seems like Grant is busy writing his book, and Katherine is busy raising her kids. I guess we have to see things from their perspective. They're busy, and while I'm sure they would like to connect with their fans more, unless we have really interesting questions to ask them, they have more important matters to attend to. Unfortunately, it seemed as though a lot of the questions we were asking when they were actively visiting the forums were very trivial and somewhat unimportant, and they certainly spent a decent amount of time responding to the questions.

I highly doubt they will visit the forums again. What we should do, is start a thread where everybody raises questions to ask them. From these questions, Ellimist would narrow them down to the best questions, compile them in an email, and send it to K.A. That way, she wouldn't need to be making a weekly commitment, and wouldn't need to be answering trite questions.
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Dameg on February 01, 2009, 03:44:09 AM
I highly doubt they will visit the forums again. What we should do, is start a thread where everybody raises questions to ask them. From these questions, Ellimist would narrow them down to the best questions, compile them in an email, and send it to K.A. That way, she wouldn't need to be making a weekly commitment, and wouldn't need to be answering trite questions.

Good idea! Please, let's do that, Ellimist!
Title: Re: K A Applegate and Michael Grant Forum visits.
Post by: Hylian Dan on February 03, 2009, 05:24:57 PM
Weird that there's, like, nothing on her channel page. ???

Michael does have this channel:
http://www.youtube.com/user/GONEbooks