Is Leon okay?
Unfortunately, I have no way to answer this without spoilers.  For readers who have finished Birthmarked, I’ve written a short story, “Tortured” that may answer some questions.  That will be available for free on e-readers December 6, 2011, and I’ll post more information about how to access it when I know.

Where did you get the idea for Birthmarked?
The very first ideas began to come when I was driving across the U.S. a few years ago, and went through a drought in the South. The waterless lakes made me feel like climate change was already here, and I started to consider the social and political effects we’ll face in the coming years. Then I wondered what it would take to survive, and Gaia’s story began to form. I started writing the first chapter a couple weeks later.

Are you writing a sequel? Yes. Though I didn’t originally plan to write more of Gaia’s story, and, in fact, the early drafts of Birthmarked had a different ending, Roaring Brook offered me a three-book contract, so I’m working on the sequels.  Prized was released in November, 2011, and Promised is due out in the fall of 2012.

Why is your book called Birthmarked?
When a baby is born in my story, a certain midwife tattoos the baby’s ankle with four freckles in the shape of Orion’s belt and the point star of his sword. Such a person is “birthmarked,” and the tattoos matter later.

Do you have any tattoos? Not so far.

How do you pronounce your name?
“Caragh” rhymes with “JAR-uh,” and the “-gh” is silent. It’s Gaelic, and I’m named after a lake in Ireland. I hope to visit it some day.

How did you come up with the code?
The main code is a variation on one I played around with when I was a kid. I thought my brother Tim taught it to me, but when I asked him about it recently, he didn’t remember it.

Where did you grow up?
I grew up in St. Paul, Minnesota.

How old are you?
I decline to state my age publicly.

Do you miss teaching?
Yes, I do.  I resigned from teaching to write full-time in 2010, and I miss my students.  I’m also very happy writing, so it was the right decision.

Is Birthmarked available in other languages?
Yes. Rights have sold in France, Germany, China, Spain and Brazil. They’ve sold in the UK, too, which apparently also involves some translation. There’s a nifty French website / site Web français with a book trailer, and a very fancy German Video / deutsches Video that, regrettably, I can’t understand at all.

Was it hard to find a publisher for your book? No. I found my agent by coming through the slush pile, and then he submitted my book to editors he knew would be interested. I feel very fortunate.

Will Birthmarked be turned into a movie?
Probably not.  The chances of a novel being turned into a film are remote, so I’m expecting Birthmarked to exist only as a novel.