Clouds suit my mood just fine. Marie Lu More Quotes by Marie Lu More Quotes From Marie Lu As a writer, I try to appeal to the 'elusive boy audience' the same way I try to appeal to everyone: I do the very best I can to create interesting characters, addictive plots, tons of conflict, believable settings, unexpected plot twists, intriguing beginnings, and satisfying endings. Marie Lu boy best unexpected way I am a hopeless pantser, so I don't do much outlining. A thought will occur to me, and I'll just throw it into the story. I tell myself I'll worry about untangling it later. I'm glad no one sees my first drafts except for my poor editor and agent. Marie Lu i-am thought myself me My first three manuscripts were epic fantasy - like high fantasy - and then the fourth one was a historical fantasy about Mozart as a child. I still have a soft spot for that one! Marie Lu high child fantasy three I remember playing 'Mortal Kombat' when I was a kid and the other 'Tekken'-style games. Marie Lu playing kid games remember When I first came over to the States, I started writing, I think, as a way to help myself learn English. I would start stapling together little booklets for myself. Marie Lu myself think together way On the one hand, I'm so relieved that I've actually managed to finish my very first series and that I've been able to see my characters through to the end of their journeys. On the other hand, I feel like how parents must feel when they send their kid off to college. It's a bittersweet mix. Marie Lu end parents feel college What can I say: I'm a writer - I enjoy forcing pain and suffering on my characters! Marie Lu say enjoy pain suffering For me, as a fan, when I read book series, I tend to be the most judgmental of the last book. Marie Lu last me judgmental book In general, I write for ages 12 and up - although I've received emails from readers between the ages of seven and seventy. My books are science fiction. Marie Lu seventy books science-fiction science I receive emails from readers that both break my heart and give me a profound sense of connection. Several months ago, I received an email from a teacher who told me that 'Legend' was the first book one of her troubled young students had ever read to the end. He cried when he finished it. Stories like that stay with you forever. Marie Lu me you heart teacher We determine whether a book is for boys or girls long before the reader gets a chance to decide: we package them with soldiers and ballet slippers on their covers, war machines and glittering gowns. Marie Lu chance war long book I remember my favorite books when I was a kid: 'The Redwall Adventure' series, 'Ender's Game,' things like that. Marie Lu game like remember adventure We are both disturbed and fascinated by visions of bleak futures, predictions of what might come if we as a society aren't careful. Marie Lu come careful disturbed society I write the story as it comes to me - YA is my natural voice, not a conscious choice. Marie Lu story choice me voice