Sweep is a series that tells of a sixteen-year-old girl named Morgan who discovers that witchcraft is an intrinsic part of her nature, and that it has been from her birth. While Morgan is learning about witchcraft, and finding out about her origins, she falls for Cal, the incredibly attractive guy who introduced her to witchcraft. But there are dark forces around Morgan that she doesn’t understand and can’t control. She’s in danger, and she doesn’t know whom she can trust. In Publishers Weekly’s recent review of the first two books in the series, they said, “This delectably dark pair of novels brings a supernatural spin to classic teen issues. . . Both books end on cliffhangers, fanning what will surely be an already keen desire to learn the whole story.”

Series can originate in countless different ways. In the case of Sweep, it was a collaborative effort. The editors here at Puffin Books and Ann Brashares, then co-president of book packager 17th Street Productions, met to talk about potential series, and witchcraft was a topic that kept resurfacing. We were all aware of how popular witchcraft is among teenagers, and we thought that it was an intriguing topic. We liked the idea of Wicca—modern witchcraft—as a current ideology that has its roots in centuries-old beliefs. As Ann started on a proposal, she worked with the notion that there are witches among us and that a certain branch of them has bolstered the teachings of Wicca. She came up with the idea that there are seven clans of people who can trace their involvement in witchcraft back hundreds of years. Some clans would be practitioners of good magic, and others would practice dark magic.

Later, she conceived of a character who by background is a “blood witch,” doesn’t realize it, and undergoes a long process of self- discovery and transformation.

Ann brought an initial proposal back to Puffin, and we began to add our own ideas to the mix. We’ve all really enjoyed brainstorming the direction of the series.

It’s been an open, creative process, an exchange of ideas in which we introduce our thoughts about the characters and how they should develop, and talk about plot twists and how they should unfold. When the author, Cate Tiernan, joined the team, she played an enormous part in inventing both the front and back story, too.

Cate set to work and produced a first draft. There was a certain amount of conversation along the way, but for the most part, she was working alone, using our outlines and comments as a basis for the story, drawing on the original ideas and expanding them, and adding many new ideas of her own. When the manuscript arrived, we were all thrilled. Cate had written a suspenseful novel with an eerie, magical atmosphere. We could see that we had the makings for an exciting new series, and we couldn’t wait to begin the process of editing. It’s been very satisfying to see our initial ideas come to life, and we are all very proud of what Sweep has become.

© Penguin Group (USA) Inc

Ann Brashares (of Traveling Pants fame) was the editor who came up with the original series concept (and the title too, I'm pretty sure). When I think of the reasoning behind the title, I think of this quote from book one--"Witches can fly on their enchanted broomsticks, fabricated not only for sweeping." At Penguin we liked the title because it seemed connected to the idea of witches and brooms, and what witches are supposed to be like as opposed to what they might really be like. "Sweep" was also appealing just because it sounded intriguing. Also, as Cate said, Morgan was getting swept up by magick. There is another interesting tie (that I can't reveal, but I think it is a really excellent link!) to the series title that comes up in book #11 ORIGINS.

We chose to work with Wicca and witchcraft because we were interested in the topic and found it fascinating, and we thought that others out there would, too.

Written by Lisa Moore, one of the original Sweep editors; sent via email March 2002.

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"Actually, I didn't name the series, and I don't name the books. I'm what's called a mid-list author, which means I can support myself by writing (no day job), and I'm relatively in demand, and more successful than 98% of other people who are trying to write . . . and yet my sales have never been strong enough to earn me a lot of money or give me the editorial clout that a really big-selling author has. A big-selling author has ultimate say over everything. I don't have that much power. Some, but not all that much. It's very frustrating. But maybe if Sweep is a huge success, the editors and publishers will have to grovel before me, and that would be really fun.

An editor friend of mine came up with the idea for a series called Sweep, which was about witches. And she wanted me to write it because she knew my writing and thought I could do it well. Just about everything beyond that basic concept is mine, my imagination, my writing. I asked her why she called the series that, and she said she thought the word Sweep was evocative of brooms, witches' brooms, and also of a sweeping, powerful emotion. Something bigger than you. And I thought her reasons were great, and loved the series title. Since then I just turn in books and the editors title them--which is why I call them book 6 and 8 and 10, because I don't know their titles.

Since then I've played a lot with the whole "sweep" feeling, in terms of emotions sweeping over characters, the image of a hand sweeping a table clean in anger or passion, and even the dark wave that sweeps over covens in future books."

Written by Cate Tiernan; via email September 2001.

Packagers can work in partnership with publishers in different ways, but here's the way that we works on Sweep. There are basically 3 groups--Cate (the author), the editors at 17th Street Productions (the packager), and the editors at Penguin Putnam (the publisher). Sometimes it's hard with so many voices involved, but when you're trying to produce a book quickly, it's really helpful, since none of us has as much time as we'd like.

In the case of Sweep, 17th Street Productions came up with the idea for Sweep after discussion with Penguin Putnam. An editor at 17th Street did a treatment introducing some basic plot elements and characters, found an author (Cate), had her do a writing sample, and submitted everything to Penguin Putnam. Then Penguin Putnam signed a contract with 17th Street.

The way it's basically worked since is that Cate comes up with her fabulous ideas (sometimes developing the ideas with 17th Street) and works them into a plot or outline. Then the editors at 17th Street voice their ideas, Penguin Putnam's editors add theirs, and 17th Street puts everything into a letter for Cate. We go back and forth this way until eventually we all come to an agreement, which can take a while since the plots are sometimes complex and because there are so many details and events in Sweep that have to make sense and be consistent with what's already been talked about in previous books.

Next Cate writes the manuscript. Then 17th Street edits the manuscript, makes comments, and sends the manuscript and comments to Penguin Putnam. Penguin Putnam further edits the manuscript, makes more comments, and sends everything back to 17th Street. 17th Street collates all comments and edits and sends them back to Cate. Cate does some rewriting, sends the new draft to 17th Street, who edits it and sends it to Penguin Putnam. Penguin Putnam then edits and sends it back to 17th Street so they can make the changes. Often there are a few more rounds of this. Finally 17th Street copyedits (to correct details and grammar), typesets it, and proofreads it (spelling and grammar). Penguin Putnam looks it over at each step. Then it goes to the printer.

The way I figure it, all three groups have a voice and a part in the making of all of the books, although Cate as the author naturally has the lion's share (I'm not sure how she feels--she may disagree).

Written by Lisa Moore, one of the original Sweep editors.

Last Modified: Wednesday, 10/15/08

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