Post by Katty on May 28, 2009 23:25:12 GMT 10
Q&A with Tamora Pierce
In late April, Tamora Pierce agreed to do a short Q&A with Katty for Giantkiller to coincide with the release (and our review) of Bloodhound.
Q&A
Katty: Is there a particular character from any of your books who sits close to your heart?
Tammy: All of them who have any degree of importance do, or I wouldn’t come up with them and spend time with them! Beyond that, my choices vary. Obviously I love my heroes, or I wouldn’t spend a whole book on them. But beyond them there are other characters that just make me happy—Taybur Sibigat, for example, commanding the royal guard in TRICKSTER’S QUEEN; the Graveyard Hag; Zhegorz from COLD FIRE and WILL OF THE EMPRESS; Secret, the darking from TRICKSTER’S QUEEN; Kel’s dog Jump; Beka’s mentors Goodwin and Tunstall—the list could go on forever! Briar for his wit; Tris for her temper and her love of animals and books; Kel for her calm, patience, and quiet humor; George for his humor and devotion as well as his ruthlessness. I can’t pick!
Katty: Do you see yourself branching out into any more new universes, or will you be sticking with Tortall and Emelan?
Tammy: Right now I have more than enough on my hands with two universes!
Katty: We know George’s father was an unidentified temple worshipper – but what class of society did he belong to?
Tammy: The point is that the stranger at the temple could be anyone. It’s supposed to be secret.
Katty: Eleni was cast out from the temple after falling pregnant with George. Did she fall pregnant during temple sanctioned ritual sex (e.g. during something like Beltane), or did she break the temple rules?
Tammy: She allowed herself to get pregnant and then she refused to give up the child, which she was required to do by temple rules. Personally, I think she was tired of temple life and wanted to make a life of her own.
Katty: Your website mentions that Numair helps Jon and Thayet set up the Royal University during the forthcoming Numair books. Is this University open to all classes and both sexes? What about those from the lower class with a strong Gift, who can’t pay the fees?
Tammy:The University is open to anyone, and if people can’t afford it, they can get a wealthy patron, or they can apply for Crown patronage to pay the fees.
Katty: We don’t really see Douglass of Veldine between his Ordeal and when he is appointed as Maura’s guardian. What does he do for all that time in between?
Tammy:He’s knighting about. He does a bit of travel to foreign lands when he isn’t in active service to the crown, explores other customs, does some intelligence work for Sir Myles. His older brother is governing their family’s lands, so it’s not like he has to be anywhere. ;-)
Katty: Are we ever going to see Duke Roger again? (He has a following. You should definitely write a short story.)
Tammy:As much as any writer can say no, I’m saying no! He's based on an ex-boyfriend, and I'm tired of the guy!
Katty: Based on what you’ve revealed about the plot of Mastiff so far - is King Roger going to make an appearance?
Tammy: He already has!
Katty:What was Lady Knight Sabine’s quarrel with King Roger?
Tammy:If she lived in our world, she would say he had Russian hands and Roman fingers.
Katty: Berenene’s daughters are secluded from their mother’s Court – is Berenene still preparing the eldest for Queenship, or is she not terribly concerned about that?
Tammy: Of course she is! She’s not going to let the realm be inherited by someone with no skills! And she’ll bring them to court when she feels they’re old enough. She won’t like it, but she’ll do it. She understands her duty.
Katty: Will Vedris make Sandry his heir? (If you can’t tell us that – will we at least find out in an upcoming book?)
Tammy: He can’t. I do intend this for an upcoming book, but it’s way in the future. He would cause a civil war among his sons, and he knows it. She will play an integral part in deciding who succeeds him, though.
Katty: And lastly, from all the aspiring writers out there - what’s your best tip for beating Writer’s Block?
Tammy: I don’t have a single best one. I have quite a few, different ones working for different people. If you go to www.tamora-pierce.com/faq.html#wblock, you’ll find all of them there. Here’s one: Have something dramatic happen. As Raymond Chandler put it, "Have someone come through the door with a gun in his hand." (My husband translates this as "Have a troll come through the door with a spear in his hand.") Machinery or vehicles (cars, wagons, horses, camels) can break down; your characters can be attacked by robbers or pirates; a flood or tornado sweeps through. Stage a war or an elopement or a financial crash. New, hard circumstances force characters to sink or swim, and the way you show how they do either will move things along.
Katty: Thanks for your time Tammy!
Tammy: You're welcome. I hope these answers make the good folk at Goldenlake merry!
