Author reveals secrets of her writing

The secret of writing is to have a subject interesting enough that the
author will do the work to finish it, said children’s author Jeanne
Duprau.

There were more spectators than seats for Duprau’s Monday
presentation in Charles V. Park Library Auditorium.

Duprau, who also writes nonfiction books, spoke about her evolution
as a writer and answered questions about her book, “The City of Ember.”

She said she struggled to write fiction until recently in her life.
In the 1980s she began working on a novel about a “dark city” and was
able to develop the story because it was like the ones she loved to
read about as a child.

“What I didn’t realize was my fiction-writer self was really still
10-years-old,” Duprau said.

The three books in the Book of Ember series focus on big existential
questions, she said. Their dark perspective of the future was inspired
by the fear of nuclear warfare Duprau said she witnessed growing up in
the 1950s.

Guy Newland, philosophy and religion professor, contacted Duprau and
organized the event after reading her books.

“The City of Ember has probably been assigned in a lot of classes,
but I think that people’s enthusiasm for it seems to go beyond just
carrying out an assignment,” he said.

Many students stayed after the presentation to get their books
signed by Duprau.

Duprau said issues she cares about appear in her stories even though
she’s not an activist writer.

She said the Book of Ember series addresses citizen apathy, resource
depletion and the possible annihilation of the human race.

Despite the bleak subject matter, Duprau said she always tries to
end her stories on a hopeful note.

Prior to the Book of Ember series, she wrote “The Earth House” which
is about her own experiences with Zen meditation.

She also has written supplementary textbook material and said she
challenged herself by writing short stories for the children’s magazine
“Highlights and Cricket.”

Duprau is currently working on the fourth and final Book of Ember.
She said Tom Hanks’ production company recently considered making “The
City of Ember” into a movie.

Stacee Parker was required to attend the presentation for ENG 381:
Children’s Literature.

The Davison senior has read “The City of Ember” and currently is
reading “The People of Sparks,” the second book in the Book of Ember
series.

Parker said she learned more about the concepts behind the books and
their characters.

“I was amazed by her,” she said.