Read what he reveals about his inspiration and what comes next for the Initiates.
What was your first inspiration for Secret Society?
Ever since college, I have been fascinated by secret societies. There's such a rich history and mythology surrounding them, and yet surprisingly rarely are we given a fictional glimpse inside one. I had always wanted to write about a college-level secret society, but I found that having my protagonists be in their teens worked incredibly well for this story. When I was in high school, I remember believing that the world was my oyster, particularly in New York City, and so the idea of an organization that suddenly and mysteriously could offer me anything I wanted was compelling.
If you are curious about some more of my inspirations for the novel,
check out this blog entry on my website, “A Novel as a Conglomeration of Mind-Flashes.”
The members of the Society have ankh tattoos on the back of their necks. What do they signify?
The ankh is a symbol that has multiple meanings, which is why it is so fascinating and complex. As Phoebe learns in the novel, it symbolizes immortality as well as the union between male and female. It can protect against bad luck or attract good fortune. The Society members will find that the meaning of the ankh changes for them, depending on what they are experiencing in the story.
If the Society tapped you to join today, what one thing would you wish they could do for you?
I wish I could write books more easily! I love the writing process, but it has its ups and downs. I'm a terrible perfectionist, and I have to know that such-and-such store really could exist on the street I say it does, or that a drink is listed with the correct ingredients, or that if characters are going uptown in a cab, the street really does go in an uptown direction. I think it's very important to get the details right—if I get the details right, my readers will believe the more fantastical elements of my story. So, yes, if the Society is out there, and they want to tap me, could they grant me a little writing genie who could fill in all the blanks for me?
What is the worst thing about being tapped by the Society?
I think it's this idea of being completely controlled. We all have a certain amount of free will in our lives, and yet joining the Society threatens to take that away. None of the Initiates realize this when they join, but they soon learn that they don't have a choice in getting out of the Society.
Secret Society ends with a bit of a cliff-hanger. Will there be more books about Phoebe, Nick, Patch, and Lauren?
Yes! I am currently writing Book II of the Secret Society Chronicles. Its working title is The Dendur Conspiracy, and it revolves around a series of mysterious events that relate to the Temple of Dendur at the Metropolitan Museum. Of course there will be the ongoing struggle between our four main characters and the Society, as well as their relationships with one another. I find Nick and Phoebe's relationship to be particularly sweet, as Nick is such a fantastic guy, though he is misunderstood. I think Lauren may take a break from romance in the next book, as she still feels very hurt about her past experience, but an important friendship will develop for her. And Patch may have some surprising romantic intrigue of his own!
How can I ask you that other question (or several) that I've been dying to ask?
I write a regular newsblog at
tomdolby.com, and I will be answering questions from readers, so just email me directly through the site with the subject line READER QUESTION, and I will blog with an answer to your question. If you want a more immediate answer or just want to give a shout-out, follow me and write me on my Twitter feed (
www.twitter.com/tomdolby). As an author, I love the immediacy of Twitter—there's nothing better to keep a writer motivated than logging on and seeing that a reader just finished your book and enjoyed it!