Post by 𝓣𝓲𝓷𝓾𝓿𝓲𝓮𝓵 on Apr 25, 2017 19:05:57 GMT -5
I know I said I'd take a break, but I just wanted to post something really quickly.
So, I decided to look back at Vicky's old posts just to check if she ever actually said anything about Missing Kits being canon, and what I've found is... interesting. Here's every time Vicky mentions Su, right from when she announces that she's going to help her up to when she announces she's leaving. Make of this what you will.
So, I decided to look back at Vicky's old posts just to check if she ever actually said anything about Missing Kits being canon, and what I've found is... interesting. Here's every time Vicky mentions Su, right from when she announces that she's going to help her up to when she announces she's leaving. Make of this what you will.
Much as I enjoy reading all your posts, discussions and messages, I have sadly failed to make each day last 25 hours instead of a paltry 24, and I just don't have enough time to respond to everyone as quickly as you deserve. So I am going to share responsibilities with the VERY knowledgeable and completely trustworthy superfan Su Susann. Susi works on both the English and German Warriors Wikis, and is a true Warriors expert (as many of you are - far more so than I am, to be honest!).
Susi has kindly agreed to answer questions on my behalf about characters, plots and what might happen next. If she is unsure about anything, she will tag me so I can check. But I promise she is almost always right!
Susi has kindly agreed to answer questions on my behalf about characters, plots and what might happen next. If she is unsure about anything, she will tag me so I can check. But I promise she is almost always right!
I am delighted to see that Su Susann has been answering your queries efficiently and accurately - Susi really does know the details better than my feeble memory can recall! However, she has asked me to confirm some things which crop up frequently, which I am happy to do. The world of Warriors is incredibly complicated, due to insufficient planning at the very start of Series One (in my defence, I thought it was just going to be ONE BOOK!). There are inconsistencies and errors, all my own fault, but there are some things which can be taken as fact.
[Then she just reveals some information on different cats]
Phew! I think those are all the main points that are causing debate. Of course I will continue to answer your questions - or Susi will on my behalf. I promise I read all of your posts and comments, so never think that I am ignoring you. As if I would do that to you! Without you, I would be writing in the dark, and nobody would have heard of these strange little fighting cats...
[Then she just reveals some information on different cats]
Phew! I think those are all the main points that are causing debate. Of course I will continue to answer your questions - or Susi will on my behalf. I promise I read all of your posts and comments, so never think that I am ignoring you. As if I would do that to you! Without you, I would be writing in the dark, and nobody would have heard of these strange little fighting cats...
Have you seen Su Susann's latest post about the "missing kits"? There have been times in the stories, especially in Series One, when I completely forgot to populate the nursery, and give my main characters an appropriate number of siblings. Susi and I have combed through the books (well, Susi has - she works much harder than me!) and come up with names and tiny back stories for all the kits that didn't make it into the story.
Of course you might disagree with our suggestions, and have names of your own for some of these invisible ones. But Susi and I had a lot of fun coming up with our ideas, and if I were to write another novella featuring cats from the early series, I would definitely include these new characters! My head is already teeming with stories about them...
Of course you might disagree with our suggestions, and have names of your own for some of these invisible ones. But Susi and I had a lot of fun coming up with our ideas, and if I were to write another novella featuring cats from the early series, I would definitely include these new characters! My head is already teeming with stories about them...
I'm loving all the debate that Susi's list of Missing/Invisible Cats has conjured up! We will never all agree, which is absolutely fine. My favourite thing about my fans is that you are so brilliant at coming up with your own stories for the cats. It is such an honour that my characters feel so real to you that they have an existence beyond the printed page. Thank you!
I am humbled and proud to see that you are still eagerly debating Su Susann's wonderful list of Missing Kits. All ideas are welcome! Just please, please be kind. Words can be hurtful, even when they are just on a screen.
Huge Thank You Purrs to all of you who are supporting Susi (Su Susann) in her sterling work at putting descriptions to names and filling in the gaps. Your epic response has made it practically a fulltime job for her, so please be patient if she needs to take a break. You have worn her busy typing fingers to little stumps…
Also, please, please remember that this is all speculative; nothing that is discussed after a book comes out can be set in stone, so don’t rush to conclusions about what I was thinking when I created a particular character or scene. I know the Dark Forest cats have stirred up a maelstrom of emotions. There are a million reasons why a cat is sent to the Dark Forest, and they can’t possibly be summed up in a single line. I would love to have the time and opportunity to write novellas explaining the history of every single cat that we have put in the Dark Forest, but that’s not going to happen, unfortunately.
If you feel that a reason we have suggested doesn’t feel right, that’s only a good thing. Perhaps you have a better understanding of that character than we do. Feel free to make your own suggestions! I really do feel that once I have finished with a book and sent it on its way, then the story and characters belong to you as well, and whatever conclusions you might draw from reading are as valid as mine or anyone else’s.
Now, Susi has pointed out that I got confused over cats that appear in Mapleshade’s Vengeance, which I thought had appeared elsewhere. It appears that I have used some names more than once, when I thought I was far more original than this! Ack, why are cat names so hard to come up with?! So, Susi has kindly made a list of the Mapleshade characters who share names with other cats. I know, it’s baffling. The only way I can cope is copious quantities of chocolate.
Also, please, please remember that this is all speculative; nothing that is discussed after a book comes out can be set in stone, so don’t rush to conclusions about what I was thinking when I created a particular character or scene. I know the Dark Forest cats have stirred up a maelstrom of emotions. There are a million reasons why a cat is sent to the Dark Forest, and they can’t possibly be summed up in a single line. I would love to have the time and opportunity to write novellas explaining the history of every single cat that we have put in the Dark Forest, but that’s not going to happen, unfortunately.
If you feel that a reason we have suggested doesn’t feel right, that’s only a good thing. Perhaps you have a better understanding of that character than we do. Feel free to make your own suggestions! I really do feel that once I have finished with a book and sent it on its way, then the story and characters belong to you as well, and whatever conclusions you might draw from reading are as valid as mine or anyone else’s.
Now, Susi has pointed out that I got confused over cats that appear in Mapleshade’s Vengeance, which I thought had appeared elsewhere. It appears that I have used some names more than once, when I thought I was far more original than this! Ack, why are cat names so hard to come up with?! So, Susi has kindly made a list of the Mapleshade characters who share names with other cats. I know, it’s baffling. The only way I can cope is copious quantities of chocolate.
Meanwhile, the wonderful and tireless Su Susann has conjured a document of Missing Kits for The New Prophecy, with the help of fellow uber-fans Madeline and Katie. As you know, I love that Susi has gone to the trouble of filling in the gaps in my cast lists! They're not canon because they weren't in the original books, but I promise I have studied her list carefully and approve of all her suggestions - and added a few of my own. I'm not *that* lazy
So, just for fun, here is the List Of The Missing for Series Two. If you have your own ideas, that's great. There's no right or wrong when it comes to inventing invisible cats. And as you know, kindness is everything.
Take care, always.
Vicky x
EDITED TO REMOVE THE RIDICULOUSLY LONG LIST OF MISSING KITS! Susi will post the details in much more accessible chunks over the next few days. You are in for a TREAT!
So, just for fun, here is the List Of The Missing for Series Two. If you have your own ideas, that's great. There's no right or wrong when it comes to inventing invisible cats. And as you know, kindness is everything.
Take care, always.
Vicky x
EDITED TO REMOVE THE RIDICULOUSLY LONG LIST OF MISSING KITS! Susi will post the details in much more accessible chunks over the next few days. You are in for a TREAT!
Oh dear. I have just realised that my last post was ridiculously long and complicated. For the first Missing Kits, Susi posted new details each day, which made everything infinitely easier to understand! So that's what we'll do again. Don't worry about straining your poor eyes to read the clumsy list below. Everything will be much clearer in short individual posts!
Poor Susi. She works so hard, and I mess up. I can't tell you how much I love the ideas she comes up with. I could write a hundred more novellas based on the cats she has created to fill in the gaps!
So, ignore the endless list at the bottom of my last post, please, and accept my apologies for making things far more complicated than necessary. Susi is going to brighten up this page tremendously with daily posts featuring missing kits and their tragic histories. Enjoy!
Poor Susi. She works so hard, and I mess up. I can't tell you how much I love the ideas she comes up with. I could write a hundred more novellas based on the cats she has created to fill in the gaps!
So, ignore the endless list at the bottom of my last post, please, and accept my apologies for making things far more complicated than necessary. Susi is going to brighten up this page tremendously with daily posts featuring missing kits and their tragic histories. Enjoy!
Thank you for the giddy response to news of Susi's next list of Missing Kits. I can't tell you how much I love your patience and enthusiasm as we fill in the gaps from the earlier books.
Now, the issue of whether we can call these kits "canon" or not is tricky, even for me. As you know, I am just one Erin among a team that is now very large, and I cannot make decisions for the whole series as that wouldn't be fair to the others. It's a pretty big thing to announce that yes, these kits are absolutely canon and should have featured in the series from the beginning. That suggests we made some pretty hefty errors in leaving them out! And you know that we have already made far too many errors in real life...
What I do feel is that, if I were to write the series over, I absolutely would include all these kits, as well as Susi's fabulous descriptions and mini-histories. Should I ever be invited to write more novellas about the history of the Clans, then I will definitely feature Susi's characters! But to go back and insist that things are canon when they didn't appear in the original books is above my pay grade, sadly. I hope you understand.
Now, the issue of whether we can call these kits "canon" or not is tricky, even for me. As you know, I am just one Erin among a team that is now very large, and I cannot make decisions for the whole series as that wouldn't be fair to the others. It's a pretty big thing to announce that yes, these kits are absolutely canon and should have featured in the series from the beginning. That suggests we made some pretty hefty errors in leaving them out! And you know that we have already made far too many errors in real life...
What I do feel is that, if I were to write the series over, I absolutely would include all these kits, as well as Susi's fabulous descriptions and mini-histories. Should I ever be invited to write more novellas about the history of the Clans, then I will definitely feature Susi's characters! But to go back and insist that things are canon when they didn't appear in the original books is above my pay grade, sadly. I hope you understand.
I can't believe it's March already - this year is zooming past! Perhaps it's a sign that I'm getting old As always, I'm very, very grateful to Susi for keeping this page ticking over.
First of all, I continue to be extremely grateful to Su Susann for answering the many, many questions on this page. Her role as a Wiki editor has been invaluable, as she has far more instant knowledge of the characters than I do. I can look everything up, of course, but I am busy and it has been lovely to have someone dealing with queries far more promptly than I ever could.
I am also grateful to Susi for posting her ideas for the Missing Kits on this page. I have said it before and I'll say it again, these are Susi's suggestions, NOT canon. I have no intention of rewriting the entire series to make use of her characters, adorable though many of them are. I thought it would be fun to let Susi share her OCs, and prompt discussion about your own ideas. In the early days of Warriors, I worked from very limited cast lists, never dreaming that one day people would want to know entire family trees! I have always been honoured and delighted when people put forward their suggestions for extra characters. Clearly I misjudged the reception Susi would get, and I am very, very sorry for that.
I am also grateful to Susi for posting her ideas for the Missing Kits on this page. I have said it before and I'll say it again, these are Susi's suggestions, NOT canon. I have no intention of rewriting the entire series to make use of her characters, adorable though many of them are. I thought it would be fun to let Susi share her OCs, and prompt discussion about your own ideas. In the early days of Warriors, I worked from very limited cast lists, never dreaming that one day people would want to know entire family trees! I have always been honoured and delighted when people put forward their suggestions for extra characters. Clearly I misjudged the reception Susi would get, and I am very, very sorry for that.