Sometimes you just need to get through to the end so you can view the book as a whole and realize which events need to be there, which can go, and how to connect them in a smoother fashion.

If the whole book is done and you are struggling with the middle, I would recommend evaluating what each scene accomplishes. Everything must always move forward—whether physically or emotionally, there has to be movement and progression, or the scene should be cut. Even if it’s a great scene in and of itself, if nothing moves in it, it needs to go.

Because I haven’t figured out how to harness their powers for evil yet. As soon as I do, they’ll be in YOUR throat and brain.

(That, or I’m sick, and my throat just *feels* like a colony of fire ants has taken up residence there.)

That IS a good question! For Paranormalcy, it was starting out fast and going along and then realizing I’d already laid the groundwork for mysteries I didn’t know I needed to have. Those serendipitous moments make you feel like a genius and are such a great bonus!

Events-wise, I did not expect to hit the NYT bestseller list with Paranormalcy, so that was pretty overwhelmingly awesome. I really didn’t sleep for a week after!

It’s this: It won’t leave me alone.

I have more fifty page beginnings than I can remember, and that right there tells you the ideas were not book worthy: I can’t remember them. But occasionally something about an idea—the plot, the voice, the characters—grabs hold of me and won’t let go even if I try to run screaming in the opposite direction. Then I know it’s worth it to try and find that story.

THE CHAOS OF STARS was one such book. It comes out in September, even though I declared many, many times over the year-and-a-half of failed drafts that I was leaving it behind and it would never be a book.

I used to listen to Pandora a lot, but got tired of it insisting that NO MATTER WHAT BAND/SONG THE STATION WAS SET TO, SURELY KIERSTEN MUST ADORE COLDPLAY.

I don’t.

At all.

Sorry, Coldplay.

I actually listen to the radio still. Smaller stations play weirder stuff which I appreciate.

But other than that, I don’t really do playlists anymore because my last few books have been un-playlist-able for various reasons. So, this wasn’t a super helpful answer. Sorry.

Sure! I won’t give the whole list because that was an exclusive prize for a contest not too long ago, but I’ll give you some of the songs! Though I don’t listen to music while I am writing anymore, I did listen to it extensively with MIND GAMES and the sequel.

“Time Is Running Out” by Muse (and I’d laugh every time I was on deadline for the sequel because, yeah, it really was)

“Panic Switch” by Silversun Pickups (they feel like a very Fia band)

“Where Is My Mind?” by Pixies

“Help I’m Alive” by Metric

“Maps” by Yeah Yeah Yeahs (“They don’t love you like I love you” is such a perfect line for so many of the relationships)

“Stockholm Syndrome” by Muse (Appropriate, right?)

“Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” by Jet (I always imagine this song playing when Fia walks into a club. I know it’s not a clubbing song, but just the attitude)

And finally, “Run” by Snow Patrol, the MENCAP Little Noise Session orchestral version. Such a beautiful, aching song. It’s always been Fia and Annie’s song for me.