Okay, first things first. (And I know you’re just dying to ask the question.)
Is that a recent photo? Like…is my hair still orangey-red?
Nope, to both. In fact, I can tell you that most author photos aren’t really all that recent unless they’re debut authors or Stephen King.
Do I have a recent photo? Somewhere. I might even post it eventually.
Anyway…about me.
Let’s just say that I’m a child psychiatrist, although I started out in surgery (because most every doctor wants to be a surgeon at some point). I didn’t stay in surgery, but that’s another story for another day. I’m also a film scholar (mostly because I love hanging out, watching movies, and eating popcorn that’s truly not good for me), former Air Force major, and an award-winning author of more than thirty of short stories and twenty-some-odd novels. (Believe me, no one is more surprised about that last bit than me.)
In case you were wondering? Yes, I used to write Star Trek. And Mechwarrior. And Battletech. And the occasional ShadowRun. I loved every minute of it, too.
My YA works include the critically acclaimed DRAW THE DARK (winner of the Westchester Fiction Award, a VOYA Perfect Ten, and Bank Street College 2011 Best Book); DROWNING INSTINCT; and THE SIN-EATER’S CONFESSION (a 2014 YALSA BYFA and 2014 TAYSHAS Nominee).
Among many other nominations and awards, ASHES, the first book in my YA apocalyptic thriller trilogy, was a 2011 VOYA Perfect Ten, 2012 YALSA Top Ten Teen Nominee, 2012 YALSA Best Fiction Nominee, and 2012 Outstanding Book by a Wisconsin Author. ASHES is currently a 2013 ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers Finalist, 2013 TAYSHAS High School Reading List, 2013-2014 Gateway Award Final Nominee, 2014 Oklahoma Sequoyah Book Award Nominee, and 2014 Abraham Lincoln High School Book Award Nominee.
SHADOWS, the second book in the trilogy, hit shelves in 2012, and MONSTERS, the final volume, was released September, 2013, and earned starred reviews from Publisher’s Weekly and Kirkus.
WHITE SPACE, the first volume in the Dark Passages duology, hit shelves 2/11/14 and was hailed as a “sophisticated” horror novel for older teens (and they mentioned Stephen King and me in the same breath!). The book was also long-listed for the Stoker. Its sequel, THE DICKENS MIRROR, appeared in 2015.
Most recently, I’ve delved into adult action/adventure and penned five novels in bestselling author Elle James’s Brotherhood Protectors World. SOLDIER’S HEART, PARTS 1-4 follows the adventures of Kate McEvoy, a crackerjack Army medic who was seriously wounded in Afghanistan war and is now part of a super-secret cybersoldier DARPA project. PROTECTING THE FLAME‘s Emma Gold, an Air Force photographer with a secret, survives a plane crash only to discover that’s the easy part.
For the longest time, I was a cheesehead-in-exile, living on a mountain in Alabama with the husband and several furry creatures and even feeding them on occasion. That mountain was pretty darned nice during the worse of the COVID years, too.
But I’m out of Alabama now…and yet still a cheesehead-in-exile because I now live in London. Yep, you read that right. A real city where there’s not a mountain to be seen and not a heck of a lot of trees or birds or other creatures who aren’t people or their teeny-tiny dogs. I’ve had to say good-bye to my cats, too, but they’re in good hands with a new mom and other furry creatures to keep them company.
On the other hand, you know, it’s London: new places, new ideas, new adventures coming at a stage in life where many people don’t get that opportunity. So I figure, okay, go for it, see what happens. Fly back to Wisconsin once a year, visit friends and Lake Superior, spend some time in a real forest or on a mountaintop or (better yet) both.
Is London terrific as cities go? Sure. Personally, I think anyplace where people have lived for over a thousand years has got to be pretty interesting. London is layered, a true necropolis where everything is built on the bones of something–and, not infrequently, someone–else.
Being a tourist is, of course, very different than actually living somewhere. I do find Londoners to be very nice, open people. The cultural landscape is much less rigid here in the city; no one is telling women what they can and can’t do, for example. I don’t worry about getting shot. But Shaw was also correct:
England and America are two countries separated by the same language.
So, we’ll see. Jury’s out. So, stay tuned because, yeah, I’m working on the next book.
In the meantime…don’t even think of touching my cheese.
Hey, thanks, Melissa 🙂 Glad you liked the series, and I’m with you: I’d love to see this made into films or TV. Honestly, I think it would be a GREAT television series because I do leave it open, and there are so many characters, with so many stories and new directions to go. I mean, if Stephen KING can do it … 😉
Yeah, I’m curious to see what happens when these kids make it out myself. If they ever do 😉
Hello, Ms. Bick.
I’m a high school student and I need to a project in which I have to interview the author of a book I read and the librarian at my school advised Ashes and I’m glad she did because it is really amazing and I would love it if it became a movie or a TV series. So if you don’t mind can you answer a few questions? Like was there a special message you were trying to convey through ashes? What was your purpose or passion or inspiration for writing ashes? Some background if you wish and some more information on maybe how long it took, when or maybe why?
I will appreciate if you can answer a few of my questions. Thank you so much.
I look really forward to reading Shadows:)
Hi it’s me, Angela again. Uh I forgot to ask what’s your all time favorite book?
Thanks. And I love the fact that you like to connect with your fans and answer their questions. Have you read any book written by John Green and if so which one did you like the most and if not then why haven’t you read them and will you ever read them?
Thank you.
Hey, Angela, sure I’m happy to help. Let me give your questions a couple days, though; I’ve actually written blogs about this, so if I can track those down, you’ll have a ton of material 😉
Enjoy SHADOWS!
And, hello again! Didn’t I just talk to you? 😉
I have read several of Greene’s books. Sounds as if you have as well. Which did you like?
Hi. Okay that sounds great except it’s due on Tuesday I’m pretty much done so I’ll email it to you and please tell me what you think so I can get a good review about it. Thanks. I appreciate it. I think I need ore detail about the book in the interview so the info is really appreciated. I have read Looking For Alaska and The Fault In Our Stars. Which ones have you read? What is your all time favorite book?
Thanks.
Hey, Angela … well, I can tell you that I had no specific purpose in mind when I wrote this trilogy other than telling as good a story as I could and presenting what I thought was a much more realistic scenario about the end of the world than I’d read until that point.
In terms of why I wrote the book (other than to tell a good story), here’s what I said in an interview of Book Chic: About four or five years ago, I read a very good book with an end-of-the-world scenario and liked it so much I found myself wondering if I could pull off something like that. The problem I felt with that book—and others like it, though—was that the setups weren’t that believable; people were too well behaved; and/or we were dropped into societies eons after whatever catastrophe had taken place. So I decided that if I were to try something like that, the science would have to be fairly solid; people would act like the savages they can be; and I would let things evolve rather than simply drop readers into a world that’s already changed.
Here are a couple blog interviews (with some background stuff, too) I’ve done that may be helpful to you: http://www.sffworld.com/2013/10/interview-ilsa-j-bick/ http://j9books.blogspot.com/2013/09/author-interview-giveaway-ilsa-j-bick.html
As far as John Greene goes, I’ve read both those books. I have no all-time favorite book; as I say in an interview (and, I think, one of the interviews above), anyone who’s telling me a thumpingly good story at that moment is my favorite author who’s written my favorite book.
Hello. Ms. Bick.
I’m Jackie from Germany. I’m a student and have to do a presentation about my favorite book which happens to be ASHES. I also have to give some information about the author, especially dates (like date of birth, first book release…). Unfortunately, I didn’t find much material on the Internet 🙁 It would be amazing if you could help me out by writing things about you that aren’t on the typical pages like Wikipedia because I already used that for my presentation.
I will appreciate if you have got time to tell me a bit about your person and life! Thanks so much. You’re an amazing writer and I really love all of your books a lot 🙂
Hey, Jackie: Well, how nice! I’m glad you like the book, and happy to help. But why don’t we do it this way? You email me your questions at ilsajbick@gmail.com. That way, you can sure to get down the questions you need answers to. Just to let you know, though, I don’t give out details like my birthday or where I was born, the names of my children, things like that, or where I live. In terms of my first book ever to be published, that would be my STAR TREK book, WELL OF SOULS. The pub date is on the Wikipedia page and, I believe, also on my website: just scroll to that little widget that shows all my books and click through to Amazon when WELL OF SOULS cycles through. Should have all the info you need.
I LOVE THIS TRILOGY i really hope it gets made into a movie or tv series it great because its different than most zombie apocalypes books
Thanks–and boy, ME, too! Where is everyone? Where are all those producers and directors? I mean, C’MON!
Ashes was the BEST SERIES EVER. You should make a direct continuation of their journeys to the island.
Thanks, Chris. Glad you liked it. As for the rest . . . we shall see 🙂
Hey,
did I already say that I read DROWNING INSTINCT? I think so … because I remember that I couldn’t write DROWNING without a few tries.
So now I just want to say: After a long time I reread a bit of it. And when I muzzed the last part of the story I was – again – about to cry. Nearly. Not very close to cry, but I read it a little lower because I couldn’t read without my voice tremoring a bit.
It would make so much fun to write more, because I like writing and even more writing in English. I sometimes realize that I really love this language.
Bye
Ayla
Oh, Ayla, yes, I remember you 🙂 I’m so touched that you continue to find things to like about that book. I’m glad you like to read, too. [And you do just fine with English. ;-)]
…thankyou. Thankyou so much for the ASHES trilogy 🙂 I haven’t read Monsters, yet, but yes, i am in love. In love with the book, with the style, with the situation, with every chapter and sentence, and with Tom. Not in love with Alex though, because that feel kinda like being inlove with myself… As much as this may seem exaggerated,but like, seriously, you brought alive a character which has been in my head for a very long time: brave, smart, suffering, red hair, and even the name: Alex. I feel like i live in Alex with our every breath, as much as she lives in me. Hahaha, wow, that sounds so deep :p Currently, my biggest dream is to BE Alex, in any way possible. (closely followed by finding a copy of ‘Monsters’ here in the UAE) to finally I cant wait for this to become a movie trilogy, or a series, as many people are suggesting…. and want to be in it, and as part of it as i feel of this book. I know im just another massive fan of this whole series, but i just wanted to thank you for these books, and tell you how much more than ‘just another fan’ i feel. Thanks again, and sorry for such a long comment 😛 😀
Sorry, horrible typing and grammar, forget the ‘to finally’ ahahahah 🙂
No worries 🙂
Gosh, no, don’t apologize! Nicest thing anyone’s said to me all day! I’m thrilled that you like the series, and let’s hope you’re right: someone in Hollywood catches a clue 😉
Yes, i really hope they do 🙂 Please do update us all if anything comes along in regards to the movie/series 🙂 Cheers 😀
Hello! I run a blog and I recently came across your book White Space and fortunately was able to read it as an ARC. Wow. After reading Ashes I had high hopes for this book and your book certainly lived up to it. I haven’t finished it yet but cannot wait to do so. I absolutely adore the way you write, its so unique in its own right. I love how you ramble in your blog post and it shows how passionate you are about writing. Honestly, you have genuinely became one of my favourite authors and I hope to read some of your other stories too.
I am, myself, a budding writer *queue the eye roll and sigh* and wish to be as in tune with my readers as you are.
Sorry if this sounds a bit cringy and like a broken record.
– Annie
Well, thanks so much, Annie! Yeah, WHITE SPACE is really different from ASHES, and I’m so pleased that you’re able to find things you like in both.
And don’t put yourself down re: the whole budding writer thing. Annie, we were all budding writers at one point, and whenever I write, it’s as if I’m doing it for the first time. Nail-biter all the way.
Have a good holiday, kiddo.
Hi,
I really want to know if white space will come to germany too because I loved the ashes trilogy ! 🙂
If no, plz talk to egmont lol 😉
Hey, Lisa, not at this point, no. If it does come out overseas, it will likely be as ebook through Amazon. (So, no translation either. ~Sorry~) Egmont doesn’t really control this; it’s up to foreign publishers to decide they want the series.
OTOH, DROWNING INSTINCT *is* coming out through Egmont De in September. So…something to look forward to 🙂
Are you going to do any in person appearances soon?I really want to get my monsters book signed.Love your books.My favorite characters wolf!
Hey, Selene,
No, no tours coming up at this point. I will be at Boswell Books in Milwaukee in February and the New Orleans RT Booklovers Convention in May, but that’s it. If you’re not around either of those venues, if you send me your snail mail addy, I’ll shoot you a signed bookplate.
Hi Ilsa,
I have read the ashes series and loved them but with how you ended monsters it you seems like you have left room for another series or another book. Can we except a second Series or more books or have you just left it up to our imaginations?
Well, thanks–and possibly? I really did write it to leave what happens next up to you. But I’ve also written about this here: https://www.ilsajbick.com/?p=2354
So…maybe 😉
Hi Ms.Bick, I have just started the Ashes series and am already loving it. I am doing a book report on Ashes and have to write about the author. I thought why get the information any way better than asking yourself. Would you mind answering a few questions?
Hey, there: sure, happy to help. I don’t answer personal questions–like how old I am or my birthday or where I was born, stuff like that–and if I’ve actually answered any of your questions in a blog post or something, I’ll direct you there. Otherwise, fire away–and glad you like the series 🙂
Hello Major Bick.
Hope you are well.
I’m Joey and we were stationed and worked together at Andrews AFB during 1990-1991 on unit 3B of the mental health unit. (Yourself and Major Cheryl Jaworski were the docs then).
Today, 17 March 2014, was at the National Bookstore in Angeles City, Philippines, where I retired,and bought your book today, Ashes trilogy (Shadows).
Small world.
Best wishes and sure I will enjoy the book.
Holy cow, Joey! First off, congratulations on your retirement. I do hope you enjoy your afterlife ;-). Are you going to stay in the Philippines for the forseeable future?
Second, I hope you enjoy the book and the rest of the trilogy. If you don’t, don’t tell me ;-).
And you are right: small world.
Be well–and it’s Ilsa. 🙂
Mrs.bick
Ive been reading your ashes trilogy since 7th grade. I first read your book ashes before it came out as your preview or premier book. Ive haven’t been able to find an address to write to but I have bought all 3 books and ive completely fallen head over heals in love with alex and tom and all the other characters. Also thank you I never read much but your books showed me the fun in reading!
Brianna
Brianna, I am so glad that my trilogy has given you such pleasure. Thank you so much for writing and letting me know. What a wonderful start to my day. 🙂
Ilsa, you are a very talented writer who I look up to, personally. I enjoy writing and when I read your Ashes series I was so impressed with how sophisticated you write and how drawn I was into that series. I fell in love with the Ashes Trilogy and cried during so many parts, but that motivated me to look up more of your books. You’re an inspiration to me, I will always be a fan until I die and I plan on telling other people your name to show other readers a writer I really am fond of. High five on catching my heart and mind in different ways throughout the book. I think I’ll reread that book the rest of my life (And I never reread books!) Forever a fan and hopefully someday get to meet you. <3 🙂 -A high school student who found part of herself in Ashes.
Oh, my goodness, what a compliment! Thank you so much! I’m really happy that you enjoyed the trilogy so [and thrilled that you want to share the love. Atta girl! 😉 ]. If we’re ever in a position to meet, that would be a sincere pleasure 🙂
You’re very much welcome Ilsa. 🙂 But I should be thanking you as well for your creative mind to write such intense and amazing books. I found that I get away from everything through reading books and when I was in the world of Ashes, I honestly didn’t want to leave. I cried the hardest on the last pages because I wanted so badly to actually meet Alex, Tom, and Ellie. (I do keep in mind that they’re only characters), but the characters you wrote are people I see myself hanging out with; people I admire… Just sitting here replying to you and I already told the kid next to me about your reply and I proceeded to tell him about Ashes. 🙂 I’m sorry for just rambling on and on but it’s not everyday where a writer writes back to me. I’m just so motivated by you to write myself, going through a lot but writing about it is my way of talking to someone about what’s on my mind. Meeting you would be the greatest pleasure I could stand. I hope you have wonderful and fabulous days to come to you full of smiles. You deserve your days to be filled to the max with giggles. <3
Pshaw, you’re making me blush, but thanks so much. (And I know how you feel; I didn’t want to leave that world either.) Notes like yours make up for mornings filled with frustration and stilted dialogue. 😉 Good luck with your writing!
🙂 I’m glad to make your mornings better, I always love to do that and thank you so much Ilsa. <3
it would be nice if i can find your DOB on the internet but i can’t find it i need it for a project i’m doing i read the Ashes Trilogy i liked it i read the book monsters with in a week.
So glad you liked the trilogy! But I never give out personal information like that. Sorry. I’m sure you can write a good report without that 🙂
sorry, but thanks
yes, they should make a movie
Hello I am a student of Majorca, in high school have told me to pick my favorite writer and expose it in front of the whole class and I decided to do the work on you because I fell in love with your book ashes, I found the best book I’ve never read, I love how this writing is happening as the story, characters, everything and I’m going crazy looking for the second part because I am very curious to know how the story goes. Well after this long presentation I would like to know if I could you tell where you were born and what year to complete my work because I have not found that information anywhere. Greetings, Rosi.
PS: sorry if my English is not perfect but I have done the best I could because I’m still learning.
Hey, Rosa, thank you so much for writing in. I’m so glad you liked the 1st book! I’m a little puzzled as to why the 2nd book hasn’t yet appeared, considering that the trilogy is done (as of last September with the last volume, MONSTERS). I do know that another book of mine has appeared in Spanish (DROWNING INSTINCT) and through the same publisher. When I can suggest is that you get in touch with the publisher to find out what’s going on with the publishing schedule. Perhaps it’s no more mysterious than the translators are tied up with other books, though it does seem odd. Here is the link to the page about me on their site and as you can see at the top of the page, there is also a tab for contact information:http://www.nocturnaediciones.com/buscar.
As for the information you’re looking for, unfortunately, I don’t give out personal information like that. That’s why you can’t find it anywhere on the web. I can tell you that I’m old enough to remember when television was black and white and was shown on a big bulky cathode ray tube that took forever to warm up; I remember when Pres. Kennedy was alive and where I was when he was shot; I grew up in various places around the United States because my dad was in the military; and I was born in the South.
I hope that’s helpful. If I can do anything else, though, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I always love hearing from people who’ve enjoyed my work.
One other thing: your English is much better than my Spanish. So, if you think you’re up to it, I would suggest that you consider going online and finding a book store in your area that partners with Kobo and buy the e-book of SHADOWS (the second book in the trilogy) through them. Failing that, because I know that many people don’t have or use e-readers– and, again, if you think you’re up to it– perhaps I could send you a book. The only thing is, it would be in English.
Think about it. 🙂
hi ilsa
just wanted to say thank you for your great writing.
best regards paul..
Thanks, Paul. Got to love your last name. 😉
Hi,
I’m doing a report on you for 8th grade language arts and I searched all the websites for info on you. But If it isn’t to much trouble I would be extremely happy if you could answer these questions. I did see that you don’t tell you personal information.
1. What state were you born in?
2. what kind of pets do you have?
3. whats you favorite quote and why?
4.could you please describe you childhood.
Thank you , This will help a lot.
Hey, TY:
Well, I’ll try to help as much as I can. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you where I was born, but I can tell you that I now have two cats. In the past, I’ve also had frogs, dogs, salamanders, and fish 😉
I guess my favorite quote is courtesy of an old psychoanalyst I once knew: “Give up the hope of a better past.” I just like it. So many people spend so much time rehashing what’s gone on and blaming one person or another, or their bad luck, instead of simply accepting that the past is the past, and now it’s time to move on.
I can’t really describe my childhood. I’m not sure what you’d find important or interesting to know, and childhood’s kind of a long time, you know? Is there something in particular you’d find important or interesting?
Hello there Ilsa!
First off can I just say I am incredibly jealous for your parents to have blessed you with such an incredible name.
Anyway back to the point, it feels weird to address you by your first name because I haven’t even met you but it also seems to cold to say Mrs Bick for me. Any how, I’m not sure if I just read the last book too fast or my intellectual capacity has just dropped, but I have a question about the series.
Why the hell did the blast happen in the first place?
Sincerely, a reader who has struggled to find the last book for quite a while but found it last week