Robin Hardy Online
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Every spring, The King's Academy Language Arts teacher Anita Padgett assigns her 8th-grade students to read Chataine's Guardian. The students do book-related projects such as creating their own interpretations of Tremaine's colored rooms (see photos below). Also, they write to Robin with their reactions and questions. She is always impressed with the intelligence and insight of these letters. Since she can't answer each one personally, we've done the next best thing and excerpted some of them with her replies in purple. They follow the photos:
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Now for the letter excerpts: T.S.: "Even though there were some slower parts to this book many of my friends and I still enjoyed it." I had to put something in between the battle scenes, T. "I would like it if you wrote me back with a list of all the books you have written." See here and here. C.C.: "I enjoyed reading it even though it was considered homework." Then I must have done something right. K.C.: "I admire the way that you always keep the reader guessing with your writing." That's because when I write, I don't know what's going to happen next, either! A.A.: "He [Roman] is so mellow, yet stern." I like that! "You are a writing genius." Nah. Here's a genius. N.W.: "I thought it was very creative how you made the world the way you did." One reason I started writing stories was to create my own little universe where people did what I told them to do. But, alas! The better I got at writing, the more my characters went off and did what they wanted to do! E.W.: "Each year my class reads books about orphans, runaways, or war. Finally, we read a book that we actually wanted to read." I'm hoping to be in that last category, although Roman was an orphan, Deirdre ran away, and then Lystra had this big war. J.T.: "I was confused about how and where a young girl would learn such bad language." You mean before the internet? "It also made me wonder the purpose for even using that language in your book." I talk about that here. A.S.: "The book was full of adventure and exciting twists and turns." It is a mess, isn't it? "It made me want to keep reading. I only put the book down like three times." I'm here to help you get sleep deprived. C.P.: "I can barely put this book down. I never thought that I would really enjoy reading." After hearing what you were reading earlier in the year, I can understand that. J.P.: "My favorite part of the book was the battle section." And here is the spokesman for the male point of view. J.B.: "At the beginning of the book, Roman took an oath where he swore to protect the Chataine Deirdre. That is how the Lord is to us. He guides and protects us. Throughout the story Roman is persecuted. It showed you how it was for Jesus. He was always persecuted by those he came to die for. As a Christian, I know about the moral issue of the book. The four rooms that Roman had to face is what Christians are tempted by so much. How he struggled and then finally called out 'Jesus.' It showed me that Jesus loves me and will always watch over me." I don't think I've heard a better summary, J.B. B.K.: "Taught me that a silent prayer is better than a loud flamboyant prayer." Excellent! S.S.: "One day I hope to have an imagination like yours so I could possibly create my own novel that would be as well known as CG." Aw, you can do better than that. G.V.: "I liked it [the ending] because you wrote the complete opposite of what the reader was thinking." Heh, heh. M.W.: "I saw that a former King's Academy student, Abigail Apon, did many of the illustrations and I think that is very cool." Yes, her drawings are wonderful. N.C.: "Please send me information about any other books you have written or that you are writing currently." I'm writing a murder mystery that I talk about on my blog here, here, and here. B.: "My mom read the book in about three days and enjoyed it." I'm happy to snatch the parents, too. Besides, they should know what you're reading. M.D.: "I first read this book when my older sister R. was in Mrs. Padgett's class two years ago. I have always had a passion for reading, and I read every single book that R had that year. So when I came across your book, I fell upon it like a hawk. "I am inspired to become a better writer subsequent to reading this book. I am a moviemaker, you see. I was actually thinking of turning CG into a movie. The script could prove to be a challenge. I was trying to figure out how to pull off such a task. Maybe when I'm about 25 years old and have around 20 million dollars (lol) I can actually assemble a suitable cast and crew." I like it, M. Have your people call my people and let's work a deal on this. J.A.: "I am not a real big reading fan, however your book has changed my mind a little bit. . . . [Roman's whipping] taught me that disobeying parents as well as friends can be more painful to them rather than to me." I like your honesty, J. A.C.: "I believe you should write a book series about Roman, and make it connect to Wayne Thomas Batson's books The Door Within." Eh, we might get into sticky copyright issues if I try to put Roman in Mr. Batson's world. But Roman's story continues in Stone of Help and Liberation of Lystra. E.C.: "My favorite thing about your book was the meanings behind the plot." Which makes you smarter than some adults I know. A.H.: "Do you believe in love at first sight?" Yes. But I also believe in proving it over the long haul. "I would be overjoyed to draw something for you." Then send me a few sketches. "This is a great opportunity to ask you if I may write it as a play." Yes, certainly. "Does Deirdre have anything to do with a biblical character?" No, I don't think so. L.K.: "Do you have any tips about writing that would help me now or in the future?" Yes, here. "Do you know of a place where I could purchase CG?" Yes, as a matter of fact; see here. K.L.: "His [Roman's] quietness seemed to yell at Deirdre in a way that she needed to be yelled at." We all need someone who loves us enough to yell at us. R.M.: "I have read the entire series. I personally did not like the ending of the final book." I'm sorry, R.; you probably got hold of the first or second edition. When I became aware that the ending was not clear, I rewrote parts of it for the 20th Anniversary Edition. Look for the Westford Press hardback of Liberation of Lystra here. (All three books went through major reediting for the hardback edition, which is the one your school wisely uses.) A.M.: "Mrs. Padgett has made this quite fun to talk about." I hear from everybody that she's a great teacher. "I am wondering how you came up with such interesting titles." Like Chataine? I took the word chatelaine and shortened it, then deleted the "e" to make it masculine (Chatain) and added sur- ("over") to indicate the ruler (Surchatain, Surchataine). T.M.: "I wondered where you received all of your ideas." I usually equate writing to digging a garden or mining: You just slave away and see what you come up with. J.N.: "The book shows us how much simpler life would be if everyone would tell the truth and admit when they have done something wrong. It also shows the importance of standing with our friends when they need us." Right. God honors honesty and faithfulness, even if you suffer for it. S.R.: "This book is very clear and well thought out." I learned early on it was better to be understood than to use big words. "CG is somewhat of a mystery and adventure mixed together." Which is what most of my books tend to be. I can't seem to stick to one genre. L.S.: "What is your favorite part in CG?" That's a hard question. I think it would be at the end, where Penuel prevents Deirdre's acting on a lie. The hardest thing for me is to watch people destroy themselves because they accept the lie that life cannot be worthwhile. "You should definitely write more books! Please? For the little kid you don't know?" I'll do anything for you, L. :) B.W.: "Thank you for inspiring me to pick up a book that I hadn't really started to write onto paper yet." Good. I can't think of a better way to spend a summer. J.E.: "The theme I got out of the story was the meaning of true love, the love that makes sacrifices, the love that is unconditional, the love we do not earn, the love the Father has for us." Very well put. A.L.: "I like how there are secrets hidden everywhere in the book." One of the first secrets of writing I learned was to leave secrets for readers to uncover. E.C.: "Many times in other books I can't understand what the point of the story is." Me too, and I hate that.
posted June 25, 2007
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