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| DIANA'S
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS |
March 2001.
Part 2 of answers to questions placed between November 2000 and
February 2001
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From ?
- Diana, this is not really a question
but I love your books. they dont jump arround like othr books
I've read. Well, how do you wight your books: hand, couligraphy
compouter?What?Well, I hope you tell everybody out there and
give them tips on how to wright. :-}
Other Comments
- 13/femail/U.S.A./ lkes bookes about
heroes and Goddess in the late 1800
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Diana's Reply
I start writing my books by hand, always. That
way nothing gets between me and the page. After that I do a very
careful rewrite on the computer. |
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From kate M.
- WHY DO YOU LIKE TO WRITE??
Other Comments
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Diana's Reply
Good question. Because I like doing it more
than anything else in the world. I get miserable when I'm not
writing anything. |
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From C.S.B
- when were you born? how old were you
when you started writing? what was your first book
Other Comments
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Diana's Reply
Born in 1934. Started trying to write when I
was eight, but this is something it takes years to learn. The first
book I finished was called ROLLING RORY, but it was no good. The
first book I got published was WILKINS' TOOTH, in 1973. See what I
mean? It took a long time to find out how to write a book people
wanted to publish. |
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From CHEYANNE M
- DO YOU ENJOY BING FAMOUS??????????
Other Comments
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Diana's Reply
It is a very nice feeling sometimes - when I
drive through another town, for instance, I can think 'Someone in
one of these houses is reading one of my books, now, this minute.'
But that feels strange,too. |
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From hayley
- I've read your book the dark lord of
derkholm and a lady at my library said the next in the series
was the year of the griffin so i read that. however i can't find
out which books come after it and in which order. Ive also read
charmed life as my friend got it me for christmas and want to
know the order of the to as it was also exellent. please could
you find the time to answer my questions as i think these are
the best books in the world and want to read them all.
Other Comments
- im 13 years old and i am hooked on
your books. i think all the ones i have read are great
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Diana's Reply
Give me time! YEAR OF THE GRIFFIN is the very
latest book I have written and there has not been time for me to do
any more books in that series. I am afraid you will have to wait a
while. If you have read CHARMED LIFE then the next one will be THE
LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT, then you can read WITCH WEEK and THE
MAGICIANS OF CAPRONA in any order, and MIXED MAGICS last of all. If
you can't find those at once, you could try HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE and
CASTLE IN THE AIR, or maybe DEEP SECRET. There are quite a lot of
books you could look for. You might like A TALE OF TIME CITY, THE
HOMEWARD BOUNDERS, ARCHER'S GOON, BLACK MARIA. These are all
different. |
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From Merlin Magicton or
Matthew
- Dear Diana Wynne Jones, I recently
purchased your whole serious of books and I was curious if there
was a role playing site, where you could make up characters and
write stories for them. I would appreciate it if you would email
if there is one. Because I really enjoy reading your books and I
am hoping to write stories having to do with them.
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Diana's Reply
There isn't a playing site that I know of,
though I know some people in Oxford have been doing role playing out
of THE SPELLCOATS for years - one of them even calls herself Tanaqui
all the time. It's possible they might have a site now, but I don't
know. |
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From Hannah
- Dear Diana, I absolutely adore your
book Howl's moving castle and would like to know what gave you
the idea of a moving castle? and also does anyone remind you of
Calcifer? thanks for being such an excellent writer love Hannah
Other Comments
- I am 12 years old and i was greatly
inspired by your books.
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Diana's Reply
The idea of the moving castle was given to me
by a boy at a school I was visiting. I took his name down so that
when I'd written the book I could put in the front who had given me
the idea - then I put it in a safe place and forgot what the safe
place was. If you look in the front of a copy of HOWL'S MOVING
CASTLE, you will see where I explain this. But no one reminds me of
Calcifer. No one could. |
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From Ian McLachlan
- Do you think that people personify
particular elements, some being strongly fire, for example,
others, water, air or earth? I have a friend who seems to make
very thin contact with life. I don't know what I mean by this.
He reminds me of the old Chrestomanci in the Nine Lives of
Christopher Chant, but when young and wandering on the first(?)
plane. I don't know why. Is there any way I can 'firm him up?'
Or would this be a mistake?
Other Comments
- In the wrong time and stuck out on the
edge of nowhere. 27 and a captive of the One for seven years.
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Diana's Reply
In the Middle Ages everyone was quite sure
that people WERE made up of the elements of earth, air, fire and
water, and that some were mostly one or the other. I think there is
some truth in this, although most people strike me as neither one
thing nor the other. I have a friend who insists she is a water
being. Your friend sounds to be air. 'Firming him up' might take an
expert magician, but you might try, very cautiously, linking him to
earth a little. The trouble is, you can easily destroy a person's
balance, so go very carefully. |
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From Kerrie Le Lievre
- Dear Diana Wynne Jones, I am writing to
request your permission to quote from your article _Heroes_,
which is published on this website, in two academic papers I am
currently planning. The first work is a chapter of my PhD
thesis, which looks at the concept of heroism in high fantasy: I
would like to reference your idea that heroes essentially 'play
against themselves'. The second paper I am working on is an
examination of the tomboy heroine in the YA fantasies of Tamora
Pierce, for which I would like to quote your comments on both
the increased acceptability of female (as opposed to
honorary-male) protagonists in YA literature, and the way the
facts of being physically female intrude on the way stories are
supposed to work and what they are supposed to deal with. If I
am able to quote from your article, I will of course ensure that
references are cited correctly, MLA style, as electronic
sources. Thank you for considering my request. Yours sincerely,
Kerrie Le Lievre.
Other Comments
- I am a Ph.D student at the University
of Adelaide (24 yrs old) studying the high fantasy novels of J.
R. R. Tolkien, Ursula K. Le Guin and Patricia A. McKillip. I
have found 'The Shape of the narrative in _The Lord of the
Rings_ very interesting! Also _The Tough Guide to Fantasyland_,
which I loaned to my supervisor and didn't get back for six
months!
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Diana's Reply
Certainly you may quote from my article on
'Heroes'. It's very appropriate because I gave the lecture that was
printed as this article when I was doing a tour of Australia. I hope
your thesis shapes up well. And please also quote me about female
protagonists. Tell your supervisor, by the way, that he/she should
buy a Tough Guide for themselves! |
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From Nicholas Duxson
- I would like to know where you get
ideas from?
Other Comments
- I am ten years old. I am your no1# fan
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Diana's Reply
As I said to someone else earlier, I get my
ideas from all sorts of - mostly unexpected - places. Sometimes
people I meet make suggestions, like the boy did over the moving
castle, or someone else I met in Hay on Wye recently, who asked me
to please write more about Nick Mallory from DEEP SECRET (and I just
have). But just as often ideas come from queer things people say, or
things I see, or even from my dog or my cat. The oddest way I got an
idea was when my children had a fight and knocked the radio off a
table on to a stone floor. My husband did a lot of shouting about
how they'd ruined the radio, and then he picked it up and turned it
on and it said' 'Oh no! I can't stand any more!' This gave me the
idea for a book called POWER OF THREE, but no one would know that
unless I told them. |
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From Fuchsia
- How do you get such brilliant and
magical ideas for your books?
Other Comments
- I am 12 years old. I absolutly adore
your books. I got all four of the Dalemark books for Christmas.
I've read all of the Chrestomanci books. I loooovvvveeee 'The
Spellcoats'. I have wanted to be an author ever since I was four
years old.
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Diana's Reply
See my reply to Nicholas Duxson, for some of
the answer. But you said MAGICAL. And I think I get magical ideas
because I am a person that strange things happen to, some of them
hard to explain unless they are magical. For instance, whenever I go
to Cornwall something peculiar happens - on one occasion I met an
obvious witch doing a very questionable spell in a stone circle.
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From Fuchsia Wilkins
- Yes, I did do the project. Would you
like a copy? If so how could I send it to you? I got quite a lot
of things from of off of this site.
Other Comments
- I wrote to you before - do you
remember?
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Diana's Reply
I'm so glad you did the project - I was
worried. Why don't you tap it in and send it to this site so that we
can all read it? |
From
Taylor Gobar
- Is there a year in which The Chrestomanci Chronicles take
place?
Other Comments
- -My teacher wants to know
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Diana's Reply
Isn't that just like a teacher? As far as I
know, the world of Chrestomanci keeps the same date as we do, only
because they use magic in place of technology everything there seems
old fashioned. So CHARMED LIFE happened quite recently, and THE
LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT twenty-five years earlier. THE MAGICIANS
OF CAPRONA takes place about six months later than CHARMED LIFE and
WITCH WEEK happens NOW. |
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From Ella
- I'm absolutely obsessed with your books
and it's pretty hard to get hold of them. It was your books that
got me hooked on fantasy. I like the way, in "Dark Lord of
Derkholm" and "Year of the Griffin," you made the
griffins sound so human and yet unique. Not many authors can do
this and I think it bears comparison with what Brian Jacques
does in his Redwall series. I saw a question from somebody named
Mai and I really want the answer, too. I totally did not get the
end of Fire and Hemlock, even though I loved the rest of it. I
also loved the Dalemark Quartet, especially "The Crown of
Dalemark." "Eight Days of Luke" got me hooked on
Norse Mythology. By the way, I think Howl and Sophie are two of
your best characters.
Other Comments
- I'm a 7th grader from Israel who dreams
of a writing career, but I can't seem to be able to write
fantasy, which is the thing I most want to write. Do you have
any tips?
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Diana's Reply
I have done an answer to Mai now and perhaps
you'd like to look at that to save me repeating myself all over the
site. Do you mind? And my sympathy for the way you can't seem to
write fantasy. I was just the same at more or less the same stage. I
used to be afraid there was something wrong with my imagination, but
I think the problem was that I was trying too hard and getting too
worried about the way other people who were older seemed so good at
it. You have to learn the way YOU need to do it, you see. And as you
live in Israel, the sort of fantasy that is going to come naturally
to you is not quite the same as it is for people who live in
Britain. I suggest you relax and drink in what is strange in the air
around you. I think you will find something quite unique to write
about. |
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From hayley .p.
- i have read the dark lord of derkholm
and i thought it was exellent so i asked the librarian for the
next book in the series and she got me the year of the griffin
and was just as pleased the next day i went to the library and
asked if there were any more and was deeply dissappointed when
she said she didnt know. is there another book? i hope there is
as i want to know how blade got on with eldas friend claudia and
also about elda herself and everyone else. i think your storys
are great and i have been reading charmed life which i got as a
present and witch week but i dont know the correct order.
Other Comments
- im 13 years old and i love your books
(well everyone i have read) my friend was reading harry potter
and she finished and wanted a new book to read i said "
just look for a book by diana wynne jones and you can count on
it to be good" she did and now she to is hooked. Please
find the time to answer my question as me and my friend will be
very gratefull. 8) P.S im sorry that this letter is SO long only
when i start to type i cant stop !!! thanx a billion your no.1
supporters.
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Diana's Reply
As I said, give me time! My sister has made me
promise to write another griffin book, so I will before long.
Anyway, I want to know most of things you do too. |
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From Lisa Savage
- Ihaven't got a question really l just
wanted to say how wonderful it is to find your books again. I am
thirty one years old and have thought about your books for many
a year! After reading your books at the age of about twelve, l
sort of grew up and read silly "Sweet Dreams" books
(teenage version of Mills and Boon), l am so pleased to have
come across them again, and am reliving my youth. I am telling
all my mad youthful old friends about you and they are currently
buying your books for their children, l am still too youthful
and irresponsible to have my own children! Sorry to ramble on,
but l just wanted to tell you how wonderful your books really
are and l will introduce them to my one month old nephew as soon
as possible. Thankyou again.
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Diana's Reply
Thank YOU. What a wonderful message! |
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From Faigie
- Would you ever consider having some of
your stories made out into a comic book? I think that would be
quite interesting. (If you do, I'm an artist!!) Also, are you
considering writing another book to the Dalemark series? I
really think that what happens after the Crown of Dalemark has a
lot of potential. Another question: Are your stories always
based on something, or have you ever just sat down to write
whatever came into your head at the time? Thanks!
Other Comments
- I am your #1 fan in Montreal, Quebec,
Canada! No kidding! The first DWJ book I read was The Lives of
Christopher Chant, at the age of 12, and it is still one of my
very favorites (the best Chrestomanci book, I think). Ever
since, I devoured every other DWJ book I could get ahold of, and
convinced the librarians at my library to get hooked on them
too. I am in the midst of collecting every single book you have
written, and since HarperCollins republished recently, I am very
close to my goal *yay*! I don't know how many times I've read
and reread your books, they are what I read when I have nothing
else to do, but all I can say is, keep writing! I started my
little sister reading your books, I gave her A Tale of Time City
to read and she absolutely loved it, couldn't put the book down!
By the way, I am now 20 years old, and as big a fan as ever.
(I've considered writing to you before, ever since I was in NYC
for a summer and read all the DWJ books the NYPL had, but
writing through a publisher wasn't my cup of tea..)Anyway, if
you're ever looking for any new ideas (as if you could ever run
out of ideas) I've got a couple up my sleeve, from some crazy
dreams I've had.
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Diana's Reply
Oh, please tell me your crazy dreams. I get
quite a few ideas from my own dreams, but I've never had any from
someone else's dreams before. This would be a First. Having stories
made into a comic book is quite a complicated undertaking - though I
admit it would be nice. You have to interest one of the big comics
firms first, usually. They are very hard-nosed and commercial and
not easy to deal with. Several friends of mine have at different
times been involved with these firms and they have all given up in
annoyance before long. I keep an open mind about more books in the
Dalemark series. I agree with you that there is room for a straight
sequel to THE CROWN but there are also several gaps among the
earlier volumes where I would like to know what happened. But so far
nothing has demanded to be written. Very often, though, I sit down
with empty paper, having told my agent that I was going to do a book
on such-and-such, and then find I am doing something quite
different. So something may well come along. Which brings me to your
other question, to which the answer is Yes. I have often sat down
and written whatever came. Mostly these writings turn out shapeless
and squashy - and I call them Five Finger Exercises - but sooner or
later some of what is in them goes into a proper book. The only one
that has actually WORKED this way is ARCHER'S GOON, where I didn't
know what was going to happen from one page to the next - that is,
until I came to the part where Howard and the Goon are racing about
in the digger, when I suddenly remembered that I had dreamed I was
writing this bit about four years before. I had quite forgotten
until then. |
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From Dominic
- Hi! My name is Dominic and I am 12
years old and live in South Africa. I was in a bookshop when I
found your books on the middle shelf, the covers intrigued me
the most and I read Witch Week. And I LOVE IT! It is such an
amazing story. It seems so modern, as if it was written this
year, but then I found out that you had written it over 15 years
ago. Anyway, I have ordered a whole lot of your books and I
can't wait to start reading them. I especially love The
Chrestomanci series. Will you ever be opening it up again? And
writing more stories for it? I love them. I actually just wanted
to tell you how much I love your books, and I think you are a
wonderful author. Thank you!
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Diana's Reply
The way my publishers have done the
Chrestomanci books is quite juicily enticing, isn't it? I'm so glad
you were enticed. Even gladder that you like them so much. The last
one is MIXED MAGICS and that was written quite recently. It was
annoying, in a way, because I'd always hoped there would be more and
longer stories to come, and these were quite short. Still, I keep
hoping that there will be more. And thank you. |
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From B. Bishop
- Better late than never!I'm 47 years old
and am just finishing up the Crestomanci series with Mixed
Magics. I love you Diana! With your rich language and
wonderfully original plots and excellent characters. I have
savoured and doled out only a couple pages at a time to make the
stories last longer. Please tell me that you will be writing
more Crestomanci books.
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Diana's Reply
As I have said to Dominic, so far there
doesn't seem to be anything else about Chrestomanci, but I keep
hoping. You wouldn't consider going on to some of my other books
while we hope, would you? You'd like the Moving Castle books.
Honest. And there are a lot of others. |
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From Caroline
- Will there be anymore full-length
Chrestomanci Novels? I've read Mixed Magics, Charmed Life,
Magicans of Caprona, and Witch Week, and I would love another!
Im a big fan, and I've asked for many of your books for
Christmas. Also, will there be any more books involving Cat?
He's my favorite character.
Other Comments
- I'm 13 and live in Morganton, North
Carolina, NC. I've been your friend since I first read Charmed
Life a year ago.
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Diana's Reply
Let's hope so. The trouble is that my
imagination doesn't work either to order or the way I think it does.
And I like Cat too, but he's a difficult person, particularly as he
gets older. That's as far as I know, up to now. |
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From Bethany Golding
- Will you ever write another book for
the Chrestomanci series? (Please do!)
Other Comments
- I am 13 and I live in Ludlow. My friend
Klara and I are MAJOR fans of all your books, especially the
wonderful Chrestomanci series. My favourite has to be 'The Nine
Lives of Christopher Chant' cause it was the longest and the
most intriguing. Klara and I beg you to write another!!!!!! I
would be very grateful to receive a reply. Perhaps you could
also send one to my friend, at: pheonix_wings@hotmail.com
Thankyou!
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Diana's Reply
I keep hoping I will, particularly as I so
often sit down to write one thing and find I'm writing something
quite different. One queer problem is that I get an idea that I
think will be about Chrestomanci or Cat and then it turns out to
belong to quite another book. This has happened a lot of times. But
I will keep trying. |
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From Bethany Golding
- What has inspired you the most to
write?
Other Comments
- I am 13 and I live in Ludlow. My friend
Klara and I are MAJOR fans of all Diana Wynne Jones' books!
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Diana's Reply
I don't think I was ever sort of inspired
exactly. When I was eight years old, in the middle of one afternoon,
I suddenly knew I was going to be a writer. So I write because
that's what I am - a writer. |
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From Janine
- Hi Diana I recently recieved a book
called Witch Week from the Chrestomanci series for Christmas. I
am really enjoying it however I don't really understand the
background of it as I haven't read the first one and I do not
know what the name of it is so could you please tell me what the
first book in the Chrestomanci series is called? Thank - you.
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Diana's Reply
The first book is called CHARMED LIFE. That
tells you about the other worlds and who Chrestomanci is, but it
then all gets explained further in THE LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT.
You can read THE MAGICIANS OF CAPRONA without needing any of the
others, though. |
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From Siah Shing Yeen
- Hi Mrs Jones, I came from Singapore,
and i became a fan of your books ever since i read Charmed
Life.This led me to read all the other 5 Chrestomanci books.I
love fantasies, and i feel that your Chrestomanci books are just
right for me.I love all the characters in all the Chrestomanci
books,especially Chrestomanci himself.I love Black Maria too.The
jokes that Chris makes make me laugh! My question is,may i know
if you are still writing any other Chrestomanci books? Please
do!
Other Comments
- I have quite a lot of trouble getting
hold of your books,especially the Chrestomanci ones.They are
always borrow out in the libraries and rent out in the
bookstores. I really wish there are shows on the Chrestomanci
books.Many people are fans of your books. I really hope that you
will write more Chrestomanci books. They are awesome!
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Diana's Reply
I am so sorry you have such trouble getting
hold of Chrestomanci books where you are. And, as I have been
telling other people on this site, I do keep hoping that I will
write another Chrestomanci book, but so far this has not happened. I
don't plan books, you see. They happen to me. It may well be that
one will come bursting into my head tomorrow, but I can't promise
it. My poor agent sighs these days and says she is used to never
knowing what to expect. (An agent is the person who arranges for
books to go to the right publisher. Mine is very good. She makes
helpful suggestions and once she sent me a photo of a shop in the
middle of nowhere that was selling magic wands). |
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From Siah Shing Yeen
- Hi Diana!!! Just want to say that i
love all your books and i really really beg you to write more
Chrestomanci books. I love that series!!! PLease say u would
write more Chrestomanci books in the future.Will you? You will
make many people happy if u did that!!And,are the Chrestomanci
books going to be make into flims?
Other Comments
- I'm 14 years old and i just adore your
books!
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Diana's Reply
I'll try, but I can't promise. |
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From Heather
- I love the Chrestomanci series, but I
would really love it if you continued them with a book that's
about chrestomanci's every day life. Slso do you think it would
be possible to a series about one of the chretomanci's I'm still
trying to figure out how many there are and if they're all tall
and thin. Also do you think you could start a new more like it's
about our world with a slight twist? Anyway, thank you.
Other Comments
- Oh I'm 15. I've been reading your books
since age 8 or ten.
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Diana's Reply
These are very interesting suggestions. Thank
you. Here I am wondering if I am ever going to do another
Chrestomanci book, and you make the perfect suggestion! I will,
seriously, think about Chrestomanci's everyday life. I can't promise
anything will come of it, but we'll see. And your other suggestion -
a book that's more like our world with a twist - makes me wonder if
you have read FIRE AND HEMLOCK. This book is exactly that. But I was
also thinking of various other twists to everyday life. Some I mean
to do. Some, as in ARCHER'S GOON, DOGSBODY, BLACK MARIA, and THE
TIME OF THE GHOST, I have already done. Have you read those yet? Or
THE OGRE DOWNSTAIRS? |
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From Maia
- Is Christopher Chant Chrestomanci when
Cat is at Chrestomanci castle? I think so, because the
Chrestomanci and Christopher both cannot use magic when they are
touching silver, but I would like to make sure. Are you writing
another "THE CHRONICLES OF CHRISTOMANCI" I just got
volume I
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Diana's Reply
The answer is Yes. By the time Cat gets to
Chrestomanci Castle, Christopher is actually Sir Christopher Chant
and a very grown up person. I keep wanting to fill in the gap, when
Christopher is about 15 and getting terribly interested in clothes
and girls, but so far this has not happened. |
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From Dr. Susan Ang
- Dear Diana Wynne Jones Although it was
with immense and intense pleasure that I read Mixed Magics, I
was wondering if you might ever write another full-length
Chrestomanci novel with Tonino and Cat in it; Janet intrigued me
in Charmed Life, and it would be interesting to see her
developed, perhaps, in another novel. I have also always hoped
for another Howl book; and, wondering in a zany kind of way
whether it would ever be possible to have Howl meets
Chrestomanci meets Derk meets Rupert Venables, I thought,
regretfully, that the world of the magids felt different from
the others, but would like to know what you think: would such a
novel be possible, and might it ever be written? On completely
another note, the mechanics of the moving castle have been
obsessing me for the last few days: what happens when someone is
in the flower shop but the knob of the castle is turned to a
different entrance than Market Chipping: do the spaces of shop
and castle remain continuous and mutually accessible? Why don't
Howl and Sophie live in the mansion-attached-to-the castle -- or
do they? What happens to the different houses attached to the
different entrances when the moving castle is stolen in Castle
in the Air? Your work has given me such enormous pleasure. Thank
you. Susan Ang
Other Comments
- Someone who ruthlessly pushes little
children aside in bookshops, going 'Me first, me first',
whenever a new Diana Wynne Jones book hits the shelves....
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Diana's Reply
I will picture you pushing little children
aside! Tut, tut. As I have been saying to a lot of people on this
site, there are many possibilities for more Chrestomanci books, but
so far they haven't happened. This is not for want of trying. I've
had many shots over the years at it and several recently - because,
like you, I am interested in Janet and would like to see more of her
- but they have all blown up on their launching pads so far. One of
the problems came to me when you were suggesting Howl meets
Chrestomanci etc. There are a thousand different types and _feels_
of magic and I have to find a story that contains the magic that is
specific to Chrestomanci's world. So far I haven't. Notions of magic
keep generating other books, but not Chrestomanci books. Or not so
far. In the Moving Castle, you can see the other places where the
castle is if you look out of the appropriate window, but you can't
access them unless the knob is turned the right way. When the castle
was stolen, the mansion and the other places just collapsed back to
the empty premises they were before the castle was inserted. The
mansion must have looked particularly dreary. I think Sophie and
Howl may have moved there as soon as Morgan grew big enough.
Children fill up spaces so and need places where they can > rush
about and roar. The mansion should be perfect. |
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From ?
- Diana please write more of the
CHRESTOMANCI books??? Please? I'll be youre best friend?!?!?!
Other Comments
- I am ten and i lllove your books!!
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Diana's Reply
You're yet another person who wants another
Chrestomanci book. I keep trying. Books don't happen by order,
that's the problem. |
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From Emily Busch
- I am reading your first book of the
chronicles of chrestomanci. I was just wondering if you are
caming out with a third volume of it. I enjoy reading them.
Emily
Other Comments
- Well, I am a senior in Madison High
School in Rexburg, Idaho. I love to read books that deals with
magic and mysteries. That's why I like your books about
Chrestomanci. Well, Have fun writting more books.
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Diana's Reply
I am glad you enjoy the Chestomanci
chronicles. So far, I am not planning a third volume, not because I
don't want to, or even because there aren't things to tell - there
are lots! - but just because a new book about Chrestomanci has
refused to get written. I keep trying, and none of them work.
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From Katherine Lonergan
- Dear Mrs. Jones, Ever since i read the
first page of Howl's Moving Castle at age 7, I have been hooked
on your amazing books. I can't say enough about the fantastic
worlds filled with people who spark interest and grab attention
at their first word to do them justice. And of course,
everything is spiced with your special brand of witty humor that
has me laughing tears. I recently purchased the new editions of
the Chronicles of Chrestomanci(and they look great!) I saw that
on the front cover there is a quote saying "mad about
harry? try diana." I have to say that there is ABSOLUTLEY
no comparison what so ever! Never have I encountered more
enchanting and entertaining work than yours. Which brings me to
my question.(finally) Has there ever been a female Chrestomanci?
I am very curious to know. If not, do you plan on ever writing
about one? Thank you very much for taking the time to read my
message!
Other Comments
- I am 14 years old, and have been a
devotee since I was seven. I live in the US,(Massachusetts) and
I am hoping very much that you might be planning a trip here
sometime in the future. :)
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Diana's Reply
What nice things you say. Thank you. You may
be interested to know that I laughed myself to tears and then fell
off a sofa while I was writing HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE. The rest of my
family couldn't believe it. I treasure your idea of a female
Chrestomanci. I don't see why there shouldn't be one, but probably
in the future. Chrestomanci's world is much more old fashioned thasn
ours that I suspect that their stuffy government ministers would be
OUTRAGED. But what a GOOD IDEA! |
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From Ashley Taylor
- Just bought Charmed life today.It will
be the first book of yours I've ever read.Are you thinking of
writing more books in the Chrestomanci series?Because these
books are better than the Harry Potter books and I'm not making
that up.If you are,please make them longer,like as long as
Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling.No, not like that 'cause you
write better.
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Diana's Reply
Well, as I've been explaining to other people,
books don't get written to order, and though I agree with you that
another Chrestomanci book would be great, and I have made several
attemps to do one, it so far hasn'r happened. I have written lots of
other books, though. Why don't you try a few while we wait? And it's
interesting that you should ask me to make the book longer. Books by
other people seem to get longer and LONGER - you only have to look
at Philip Pullman's and the latest Harry Potter - and, without
meaning to, I find that things I write are getting longer too. My
latest one, which is only half done so far, is going to be about 300
pages once it's finished. Readers seem to prefer this. Can't be bad.
By the way this book is very magical, but about different people. |
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From Tamsin W-Smith
- I do have a question, but the thing I
really wanted to say was how much I love your books, and how
much they (and your autobiography!) gave me hope and courage in
my own writing. I am studying medieval literature as a postgrad
and I particularly enjoy the mythic qualities of your books (I
hope that doesn't sound too pretentious). But the best thing
about them is the humour - that's the addictive part! It's a
trait that JK Rowling has very successfully borrowed (I'd be
prepared to bet she's a fan!). Lots of fantasy writers seem to
prefer squeezing their readers through an emotional mangle by
killing off all the empathetic characters, or trying to beat
Tolkien at the game of weaving plots of such complexity that the
reader goes blind or mad, or both! For the first time reading
your books, I found a writing voice I could identify with,
enough that I realised that the stuff I wanted to write wasn't
'wrong' and that the genre could be wide enough for all sorts of
writing. And I'd like to agree with the other writer that while
I love (and grew up with) your children's books, the recent
adult ones are awesome. My question is a writing one, and I hope
that's OK. I am always very impressed by the way you manage to
make the speech of each of the different characters so evocative
of their personalities. I find general and personal description
easier, but all of my characters have a depressing persistence
in talking in the same way (unless they suddenly take a fancy to
speaking with an accent - and they don't often make up their
minds about that either!). It seems a bit calculating to
deliberately pick a verbal idiosyncracy and inflict it on them -
I wonder if you have any suggestions?
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Diana's Reply
HOW I agree with you about the fantasy writers
who 'prefer squeezing their readers through an emotional mangle'! At
the moment I am a judge for the World Fantasy Awards and I keep
getting huge boxes of just such books, all of them over 500 pages
long, too, and heavily dependent on Tolkien. They make the most
depressing reading - if you can follow who is who and which order of
priestesses is murdering whom and which is whose Lost Heir and what
talisman is where. I wish they wouldn't. I hoped to put them all off
by writing 'The Tough Guide to Fantasyland' but they just seem to
have come on more strongly for it. I suppose every writer comes upon
that 'for the first time' occasion, when they realise what it is
they want to do and that it IS possible. I am so glad that my
writing gave you your moment. Ironically enough, it was Tolkien who
was mine (but this was long ago) at a point when everyone despised
fantasy. I knew I wanted to write fantasy. I was wondering if I was
going to have to do it as a wholly private activity when I nearly
had a miscarriage and was sent to bed. In order to keep me there,
they found me the biggest book they could, which happened to be
'Lord of the Rings'. And I read it and thought, Oh one IS allowed to
write whole books of fantasy! It was such a relief - rather as you
describe. So I suppose I am grateful to Tolkien in spite of
everything. Your question about the way characters speak - from what
you say, it seems as if you are visualising your people but not
LISTENING to them. Have them walk about in your head and say their
say and do their own thing, and you will find that you know just
what they sound like. Everyone has her/his particular tricks of
speech. Some of these are quite mild - no need to pick on an
idiosycracy. It is often just a matter of a particular rhythm. Once
you HEAR the characters' voices, you'll have no problem. (But what
galls me is that when one has done this, very carefully, and written
what the characters say, along comes a dim-witted copy editor and
rewrites all the talk because it's not 'grammatical'. When did
people ever speak grammar? I have had more rows with copy editors
than I have had hot dinners.) |
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From Emmanuel
- Dear Diana, I discovered lately the
Worlds of Chestomanci, and the similarity with that of Harry
Potter struck me. Did you collaborate with Mrs Rowling or did
she get her inspirations from you for her writings ? It would be
so sad that the success of Harry Potter dos not pay tribute to
its origins in such a case! Thank you for answering. Best wishes
for the new year ! Emmanuel
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Diana's Reply
I think Ms Rowling did get quite a few of her
ideas from my books - though I have never met her, so I have never
been able to ask her. My books were written many years before the
Harry Potter books (CHARMED LIFE was first published in 1977), so
any similariities probably come from what she herself read as a
child. Once a book is published, out in the world, it is sort of
common property, for people to take ideas from and use, and I think
this is what happened to my books. |
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From Heidi Ruth
- I'm glad to know that all your books
are being reprinted. Unfortunately since I live in America I
don't how long I'll have to wait. I work for a book store and we
just got the Chrestomanci books in on January 10, 2001. Am I
going to have to wait eight months for each new book?
Other Comments
- I'm 27 and became a fan eight or so
years ago. Harry Potter has nothing on you!!!!!!
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Diana's Reply
I certainly hope you aren't going to have to
wait that long. HarperCollins is reissuing my books in America,
although they are a different branch of the same firm who are doing
the books here in England, and some should be getting through to you
by now. If they are not, email their offices and ask why not.
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From Antonia Herrera
- I was wondering how do you feel about
the Harry Potter phenomenon and how it reflected in your genre.
It seems that most of your books are being republished because
of the attention JK Rowling shed upon children's fantasy. I read
the first Harry Potter and liked it, but felt that it wasn't as
great as to deserve the whole world's spotlight. PS: I was
surprised that no one else here had asked this, surely other
people have?
Other Comments
- I'm 16 and I have been thouroughly
charmed (since the age of 12) by all your books. Specially since
they helped me learn english when I lived in the US. I can now
write in English just as well as in spanish, and hope to become
a great writer and follow in your children-fantasy footsteps
(although not imitate, god forbid! =). Also, as many people here
have hinted, it would be so awesome if any of your books became
movies. I would think they would go better as animation films
than live-actor movies, though... Dogsbody (personal favorite!)
seems simple enough so that they couldn't easily screw it up or
change it too much (I know it's hard not to be disappointed when
considering books versus their movie versions). Sorry for making
this kinda long, I will be infinitely happy if you can find the
time to answer (or rather comment on) this. Thank you!
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Diana's Reply
Yes, I am surprised no one else has asked
about Harry Potter. Here anyway. They do everywhere else. While I
was answering everyone's questions, a man from the BBC rang up and
asked. He wanted to know why I thought everyone has suddenly taken
to fantasy and magical stories in such a big way. And some of it is
odd. There are thousands of adults who worship Harry Potter and have
never ever read any other book like it in their lives. You want to
ask what on earth they were doing (or reading) as children. I
suspect that the simplest answer is that world opinion suddenly hit
crisis-point after many,many years of me and writers like me
beavering away trying to show people that this sort of writing was
one of the most enjoyable things there is. The good thing is that
people are now enjoying it and not sneering at it as 'Just silly
stuff for children.' You can get on and write stupendous things now
yourself without worrying what their reception will be. I am glad I
helped you learn English. This makes me proud. DOGSBODY is actually
being considered for filming, but so much deoends on whether the
company that is interested can scrape together the money. |
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From Lucy
- I've got a couple of questions. One is
how do you feel about the success J.K Rowling has had with Harry
Potter, when so much of it is similar to your books? I think
it's really unfair because your books have much better plots and
are much more clever. My other question is do you believe in
time travel and parallel worlds etc? Thanks for taking the time
to read my questions (I wish I'd found this site sooner!) Bye
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Diana's Reply
I have a bit of a double reaction to the Harry
Potter phenomenon. On one hand, it has made all magical stories much
more acceptable. There was a time when they were sneered at, and
journalists (particularly) used to say they were encouraging
children to retreat from reality, or - worse - not be able to tell
what WAS real. Now the same people just say 'This is not Harry
Potter so I don't like it', which is much easier to ignore. And it
makes for much greater freedom all round. On the other hand, there
is no doubt that JK Rowling's writing has a strong similarity to my
books, which I take to be because a lot of mine were written 20
years ago and more and she read them as a child. They were sort of
out there for her to use. I don't have a problem with this. What
REALLY annoys me is the people (journalists) who don't look at the
dates on the books and keep ringing up and asking me why I copy her.
There was a time when I jumped up and down and vowed I'd be really
rude to the next one. Yes, I think I do believe in parallel worlds.
Quite a few scientists seem to nowadays and I have always thought it
made sense. Time travel is a more difficult one, because if it WAS
possible we'd have met someone from 32000 doing it. And we haven't -
unless they're under orders not to disturb the > natives. But it
may be possible in a smaller way. I was once driven in a car by
woman who admitted to being a witch, and we were going to be late,
so she said she'd tinker with time and get us there early. And she
did. We took half an hour to cover fifty miles, which included
winding lanes and two towns full of rush hour traffic. When we
arrived I rushed in saying So sorry I'm late! and everyone said But
you're not - you're early! This I was forced to believe. |
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From Zoe Heath (mum) and
Gavin (age 9)
- by them, maybe subconciously (don't
want to get into dodgy ground here)? Apologies but we read the
Harry Potters first. Glad to have discovered your stories
because there are so many more of them! There seem to be quite a
lot of similarities between some of your books and the HP's -
though of course you came first! Anyway, as my son insists on me
reading to him every night it is very important that I find
stories that I enjoy as much as he does - and yours certainly
fit the bill. Our favourite so far is Archer's Goon; brilliant!
Thanks for keeping us entertained. PS Hathaway has definitely
come to Wells and surrounding areas - all the roads are being
dug up, apparently just to annoy us and make life as difficult
as possible!
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Diana's Reply
Yes, I do think JK Rowling almost certainly
read my books when she was young. I hope someday to get a chance to
ask her. But I'm glad you like mine too. Hathaway has a lot to
answer for. He is at present busily digging up Bristol where I live
too. And I got a letter from Dorset the other day from the mother of
a family who stand by the bus stop and chant 'Hathaway, send a bus!'
whenever they're going to town. And I begin to suspect Hathaway runs
the railways as well. |
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From martin
- i was wondering whether or not you
think hexwood could be effectively adapted as a film (i.e. are
there too many subtleties and complexities for this to happen);
also would you want to write the screenplay yourself - not just
for hexwood but if any of your books were to be made into films
- for fear of others changing your hard work for the worst?
Other Comments
- 18 years old in australia
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Diana's Reply
It would be great fun to adapt HEXWOOD as a
film, wouldn't it? There would be a really confusing first section
in which nothing happened in its right order. A film could this
rather well, since they don't film in order anyway. But I don't have
any confidence in my power to do a script. When the BBC filmed
ARCHER'S GOON, I was quite glad to let them give it to a
professional scriptwriter, and just asked if I could be consulted
all the time. In fact, the producer was the one who insisted that
the script should stick acurately to the book, not me, and the poor
scriptwriter had quite a hard time trying. You do have to translate
a bit between one medium and another, but she wasn't allowed to.
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From Claire Harrop
- I am nearly 15 and have read Howl's
movig castle, It is BRILLIANT! It's so good in fact that I would
like to make a film. I am writing the script as we speak, and
would like your authorisation. Please e-mail me
geoff@porrah.fsnet.co.uk ASAP so I can send you the script in
progress. If it's OK by you! Thanx Claire Harrop
Other Comments
- nearly 15, Sherburn High School
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Diana's Reply
I am so glad you like HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE
this much. But I'm sorry. I can't say you can do a film script
because the book is under offer to a film company at the moment. If
their project doesn't come off, you can go ahead, but at the moment,
I am legally obliged to discourage you. I really am sorry. You
sounded so jubilant. |
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From Alison Gagen
- This is more of a request for
elaboration (though I seem to have snuck some extra questions in
too): about Jung. One of the things which made me feel most at
home in your books as a child - apart from the way the rules of
your worlds are so gloriously explicit, yet unexpressed - and
still does, was the way in which you understand and convey the
notion of a collective unconcious. There are clearly in your
books certain truths - usually myths or stories - which can make
absolute sense across worlds and to all people (well, most).
When I read Four Quartets, I understood it contained these
truths too - and I thought of Fire and Hemlock instantly (in
fact, one of my undergrad books on Eliot had a picture of a
sunken pool in his garden and it gave me goosebumps, it was so
evidently THAT pool.) I'd be interested to hear more. I think
your Middle Ages influences (I had to do those chaps at
University as well, I wish they'd had such an effect!) and the
classical ones are probably formative because they understood
and used this too? PS - I think the young Irish actor Jonathan
Rhys Meyers might be a suitable Howl (he was Steerpike in the
recent Gormenghast, and everyone thought he was Welsh. He's
rather unearthly-looking; plenty of young girls are desperate
about him, judging by the quantity of lovelorn stuff on the
BBC's message board; and he can do 'vain and spiteful', judging
by that). Surely Howl must be one of your most enduringly
popular characters - especially amongst women! PPS As I'm very
myopic (and don't get on with contacts), I am a particular fan
of your recurring motive of the mean spectacles-focused stare
(from Wilkin's Tooth to Deep Secret). Where did this come from?
Other Comments
- I've always wanted the opportunity to
how grateful I am that I had your books to impact upon my
imagination. My growing-up years were definitely the richer for
them. Started with Luke aged 9 or so. My Mum would read aloud to
me. My younger sister was similarly enthusiastic. 'Purple and
orange language' is still a family saying! Am 32 now. Still
delighted with every re-read (or - joy! - even new read). So
delighted about the Harper Collins reprints as we've lost our
family copies of many - or they fell apart.
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Diana's Reply
I truly didn't know there was a photo of THAT
pool. It was the Eliot one, of course. Fancy that. But FIRE AND
HEMLOCK is one of Those Books - it seems to try to realify itself
all the time. I was followed about by things out of it while I was
writing it, and the same tends to happen to people reading it. When
I worried about this to one of my sisters, she said, 'Of course it
would. You went and put something real in it, didn't you? Like
Shakespeare did with That Scottish Play.' (She is an actress). And I
really believe she is right, though whether it's something from the
collective unconscious I wouldn't know. Anyway, I have always been
fascinated by Jung. I think when Howl is filmed - or perhaps I
should say IF - he may well be an animation, not a real person.
Pity. Isn't it a nuisance having poor eyes! I can't use contacts
either, but I avoided glasses for years even though I have one
really bad eye, until now, when I found I had to have special
glasses to see my computer screen with. Humiliating. The wearers of
glasses in my books derive mostly from my youngest son, who fooled
us all that he could see until he was twelve and was then dicovered
not to be able to see to the end of the dining table. And the son of
a friend who did the push-glasses-against-the -eye bit to focus his
dirty look. |
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From Liz
- I know this isn't a question: it's more
of a suggestion. Your books would make GREAT movies. Have you
ever thought of trying that, especially with the Chrestomanci
series?
Other Comments
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Diana's Reply
Yes, actually people are always suggesting
they make a movie of one or other of the Chrestomanci books, but all
their efforts always fall through. No money. |
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From madeleine st john
- To Diana, I was wondering if you were
going to write any more books about Howl, Sophie and Calcifer.I
really enjoy your books and I would like to find out what
happenes to them as Morgan gets older.I have read both Howl
books twice since I bought them a week ago! from madeleine
Other Comments
- I am age 11 and I have already read:
Charmed Life The Magicians of Caprona Witch Week The Lives of
Christopher Chant Mixed Magics Black Maria A Tale of Time City
Castle in the Air Howl's Moving Castle
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Diana's Reply
Heavens! Steady on! You need to save one or
two books for a rainy day. At the rate you're going, you'll have
finished them all by now. I can't write them quick enough to keep up
with you. Howl is one of those people I'd love to write about again,
but I haven't yet managed to get an idea that works for him. Morgan
as a child ought to be one idea, but it just doesn't seem to go yet.
I swear to you I have tried, often. |
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