Extraordinary: Light vs. Dark
Extra info
ATTENTION: This is a page for people who have already read my book Extraordinary: Light vs. Dark. If you haven't read it but are interested in doing so, click here for more information. If, however, you have read Extraordinary, you're in the right place. On this page are answers to a few of the questions I've received. Before I start, though, I'd like to thank you for reading my book. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Will there be a sequel?
That's the #1 question I'm asked and the answer is YES!!! I took a short break to write Moms are from Mars and now I've plunged right back into Alina's life. It will be interesting to see how she deals with being the Fair One and how Light Council reacts to the The Light's new "star." Her relationships with those close to her will also be affected. Oh, the possibilities!
What inspired you to write this book?
First off, I've always wondered what it would be like to have a superhero who is a pacifist, who recognizes the importance of being good over being great. I also wanted a thinker -- someone who questions the way society works. In this case, it's The Light vs. The Dark. How is one side wrong and the other right? Is it right to judge? Like Alina's mantra, everybody has a story. She knows both sides must have plenty of stories of their own. When do people's stories excuse their behavior? When do they not? It's a difficult question.
There is a quote I found after I wrote Extraordinary that perfectly encapsulates another theme I wanted to explore. It's by Marianne Williamson and goes like this: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." Whoa! She even used the terms "light" and "darkness"! Awesome. There are many in this world who are viewed as insignificant -- even by themselves. Yet, I believe there is great power inside all of us. The challenge is recognizing it.
There is one more thing I want to mention here because it involves a big beef of mine. I wanted to make sure the adults in the story weren't stupid. I HATE it when books do that! Too many young adult books feature kids who are wise beyond their years with parents who are absolute morons. What a bunch of baloney. I wanted to make sure every character -- including the adult ones -- was real, with stories and ideas of their own. With that being said, though, I didn't want characters who were perfect. What kind of fun would that be? Flawed characters are always most interesting to me -- as long as the flaws are understandable.
Do you have any discussion questions?
Yes I do and here they are! A big shout out goes to my mom, a retired high school English teacher. She helped me big time when it came to coming up with these. (Translation: She came up with 90% of them.) If you think you've got a great question or point to ponder, please let me know. I'd love to hear it. Just click the "Contact Me" button along the left-hand side of this page.
Will there be a sequel?
That's the #1 question I'm asked and the answer is YES!!! I took a short break to write Moms are from Mars and now I've plunged right back into Alina's life. It will be interesting to see how she deals with being the Fair One and how Light Council reacts to the The Light's new "star." Her relationships with those close to her will also be affected. Oh, the possibilities!
What inspired you to write this book?
First off, I've always wondered what it would be like to have a superhero who is a pacifist, who recognizes the importance of being good over being great. I also wanted a thinker -- someone who questions the way society works. In this case, it's The Light vs. The Dark. How is one side wrong and the other right? Is it right to judge? Like Alina's mantra, everybody has a story. She knows both sides must have plenty of stories of their own. When do people's stories excuse their behavior? When do they not? It's a difficult question.
There is a quote I found after I wrote Extraordinary that perfectly encapsulates another theme I wanted to explore. It's by Marianne Williamson and goes like this: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us." Whoa! She even used the terms "light" and "darkness"! Awesome. There are many in this world who are viewed as insignificant -- even by themselves. Yet, I believe there is great power inside all of us. The challenge is recognizing it.
There is one more thing I want to mention here because it involves a big beef of mine. I wanted to make sure the adults in the story weren't stupid. I HATE it when books do that! Too many young adult books feature kids who are wise beyond their years with parents who are absolute morons. What a bunch of baloney. I wanted to make sure every character -- including the adult ones -- was real, with stories and ideas of their own. With that being said, though, I didn't want characters who were perfect. What kind of fun would that be? Flawed characters are always most interesting to me -- as long as the flaws are understandable.
Do you have any discussion questions?
Yes I do and here they are! A big shout out goes to my mom, a retired high school English teacher. She helped me big time when it came to coming up with these. (Translation: She came up with 90% of them.) If you think you've got a great question or point to ponder, please let me know. I'd love to hear it. Just click the "Contact Me" button along the left-hand side of this page.
EXTRAORDINARY: Light vs. Dark
Discussion Questions/Points to Ponder
Discussion Questions/Points to Ponder
At what point in our lives do we recognize our full potential?
How does a personal ethic evolve?
What are our expectations of a hero? Do they change depending on whether that hero is male or female? If so, why?
Darryn is a rather one-dimensional character, driven by one goal. Alina is quite the opposite. How does that help or hurt them as they follow their paths in the book?
If you found out you were the Fair One, how would it complicate your life? Would you be happy or sad?
The Light Warriors find out who they are early in their lives. How would finding out later affect the way they feel about their duty to The Light and Light Beings?
How do fictional accounts of battles between good and evil mirror our world today?
Without evil in the world, would people have the chance to bring out their best?
Does evil bring out the best or worst in its adversaries?
How has modern day technology allowed individuals to have some invisibility? What are the ways that it can lead people toward good or evil? How can that affect our morality?
How do behaviors toward others in adolescence change or persist as people move into adulthood?
How does a personal ethic evolve?
What are our expectations of a hero? Do they change depending on whether that hero is male or female? If so, why?
Darryn is a rather one-dimensional character, driven by one goal. Alina is quite the opposite. How does that help or hurt them as they follow their paths in the book?
If you found out you were the Fair One, how would it complicate your life? Would you be happy or sad?
The Light Warriors find out who they are early in their lives. How would finding out later affect the way they feel about their duty to The Light and Light Beings?
How do fictional accounts of battles between good and evil mirror our world today?
Without evil in the world, would people have the chance to bring out their best?
Does evil bring out the best or worst in its adversaries?
How has modern day technology allowed individuals to have some invisibility? What are the ways that it can lead people toward good or evil? How can that affect our morality?
How do behaviors toward others in adolescence change or persist as people move into adulthood?
