Question (from about ten readers): How long have you been working on this book?
Kackie: Bekah and I started the book in 2003. December 2003, actually
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Question (from about three readers): Did Jagger get his name from Mick Jagger?
Kackie: I get this question from almost every reader! Ha! No, actually, Jagger's name just seemed to fit him. I wasn't even thinking of the rock star at all, though Jagger is a bit like a rock star. Don't forget, it's his nickname and not his given name. His given name is James. Boring old James Arthur Clancy. I actually saw the name "Jagger" mentioned recently in a baby name book AND in an article in a writing magazine that was about naming your characters. Maybe I've started a trend!
Come on, though... doesn't "Jagger" just SOUND like an Aussie??
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Question (from slack192 or Banana Tree): Where do you get your ideas?
Kackie: I get them from everything... movies, people I meet, songs I hear, new inventions, books I read, something I smell, a memory that comes to me, an interesting person I hear about, an accent... you name it, it can inspire me. Look for inspiration everywhere. Curiousity and observation are big things. You'll be surprised.
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Question: How did you write the book with the co-author when you live far apart?
Kackie: Bekah and I lived in the same town for seven years (N. Conway, NH) and in 2003, we started the first draft of this book. We gave it up because there were too many characters to juggle. Well, she came to visit in May 2005, and we dug the story back out. The day after Bekah flew back home, I began thinking of revamping the story. I actually quit working at my job (Edwards 21 Cinemas) to write the book. I knew it would be "good." And Bekah and I wrote back and forth over IM when I needed help. Or occasionally emailed parts back and forth. Or talked about it over the phone. When she visited for Thanksgiving 2005, we also looked over everything together and planned the series out.
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Question: What does "SCK" mean?
Kackie: SCK stands for South Crawley Kids, kind of like LOTR stands for Lord of the Rings.
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Question: You like Keith Urban- have you met him?
Kackie: No, I haven't gotten to meet him! I would love to, though, or at least to speak to him on the phone or something, though, and tell him how much he's inspired me and tell him about the book. There is a dedication for him in the end.
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Question: What is Project Monkey Boy?
Kackie: Project Monkey Boy is my "mission" to get a copy of SCK into Keith's hands. I'm a member of Monkeyville and a lot of the "monkeys" have been helping in the general effort to somehow give one of these books to Keith. Country Weekly made sure to let Keith know where to get the book ;)
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Question: There is a dedication for Barry and Robin Gibb in your book. Are you a fan?
Kackie: Yes, my mom has turned me into a huge fan of the BeeGees! I really admire and appreciate their work as writers, musicians, brothers and people in general. They have shared so much wonderful music with us. I would love to speak to Barry or Robin- that would be just wonderful.
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Question: Will there be more South Crawley Kids books?
Kackie: Oh yes. My dear friend Megan "Babbit" has co-written 2 with me, and we are almost done with a draft of it, and then need to do polishing and rewriting/editing. My friend Kale will be co- authoring the third book, which we have been planning out for a while. We have plans up until the fourth book, but are all thinking this may be an eight book series... with two books for each of the main characters/couples. I've also done a lot of writing on my own about Maria Clancy (Jagger's Mum) and Nate, and also about the Kids when they were... well, kids! Megan has done some stories from that "time" as well, that are quite amazing.
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Question: So there are more than TWO South Crawley Kids authors?!
Kackie: Yes, there are four of us now. I got the original idea in 2003, Bekah and I dabbled with it, and then I gave it up until 2005. At that time, Megan and I were already friends, so she was aware and supportive of the book. She jumped aboard as an author in 2006, completely co writing 2 with me, as well as countless stories, little segments and back stories for the characters. She also created Babbit Conner's brother Aiden Conner.
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