Esha Mite
28 Oct 13 - 08:15
Dear Mr Stroud,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! : D (I hope this doesn't get your attention a little too late after 27 october) I could've started with how I'm a "huge fan" but then I remember a thousand similar posts. Besides, calling oneself a fan is just the ultimate way of separating one from the thing itself, it feels like a kind of bereavement...(the peripheral feeling) How does really it feel to create a work so powerful to so many people?
You know, it's a strange thing how one can want their favourite books to become famous and appreciated (have fellow fans) and feel an inexplicable twinge of possessiveness at the same time.
But I'm so glad the bartimaeus world exhists! I will get down to my questions now :b
1) Did you ever regret making nathaniel die? I had almost got used to nathaniel escaping at the critical moment time and again that I just hadn't wanted to think this time would be different. My mind would travel back to the hopeful eleven year boy working away with only his books and his dreams and desire for 'justice', his talent - all of that suddenly seemed so...pointless? I mean yeah, he saved the magicians world. And yeah, his dying made the ending heartbreaking but impactful.
2) You could relate to nathaniel, that is why you could make him so real. Who - if at all there was someone - was like Simon Lovelace in your life? Even the other characters - they had some traits that you noticed in people around you who mattered, right? Could you tell us about them? : )
3) The whole system of planes, pentacles, the Other Place, the many, many kinds of spirits - there was a kind of elaborateness about it that gave the world some completeness. I just wanna say its awesome. How daunting and painstaking was that task of creating an alternate history? Had you studied history in college, or are just an enthusiast?
4) During the process of writing, how many times did you choose a path, find it boring/a dead end, and turn back? What all changes happened, events, conversations that you once considered but eventually decided to not put?
5) Your descriptions are very vivid. A market scene would describe all the objects (eg Tashkent silks), an action scene would describe every move (for instance something like "I threw a detonation and drew level with them"). It is very beautiful and creates a sense of presence, but did you ever hesitate about being too wordy?
Okay, that's a lot for you to read, I'm sorry! Once again, a really, really happy birthday!
And good luck : D
Please do reply. : )
Warm regards,
Esha
New Delhi.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! : D (I hope this doesn't get your attention a little too late after 27 october) I could've started with how I'm a "huge fan" but then I remember a thousand similar posts. Besides, calling oneself a fan is just the ultimate way of separating one from the thing itself, it feels like a kind of bereavement...(the peripheral feeling) How does really it feel to create a work so powerful to so many people?
You know, it's a strange thing how one can want their favourite books to become famous and appreciated (have fellow fans) and feel an inexplicable twinge of possessiveness at the same time.
But I'm so glad the bartimaeus world exhists! I will get down to my questions now :b
1) Did you ever regret making nathaniel die? I had almost got used to nathaniel escaping at the critical moment time and again that I just hadn't wanted to think this time would be different. My mind would travel back to the hopeful eleven year boy working away with only his books and his dreams and desire for 'justice', his talent - all of that suddenly seemed so...pointless? I mean yeah, he saved the magicians world. And yeah, his dying made the ending heartbreaking but impactful.
2) You could relate to nathaniel, that is why you could make him so real. Who - if at all there was someone - was like Simon Lovelace in your life? Even the other characters - they had some traits that you noticed in people around you who mattered, right? Could you tell us about them? : )
3) The whole system of planes, pentacles, the Other Place, the many, many kinds of spirits - there was a kind of elaborateness about it that gave the world some completeness. I just wanna say its awesome. How daunting and painstaking was that task of creating an alternate history? Had you studied history in college, or are just an enthusiast?
4) During the process of writing, how many times did you choose a path, find it boring/a dead end, and turn back? What all changes happened, events, conversations that you once considered but eventually decided to not put?
5) Your descriptions are very vivid. A market scene would describe all the objects (eg Tashkent silks), an action scene would describe every move (for instance something like "I threw a detonation and drew level with them"). It is very beautiful and creates a sense of presence, but did you ever hesitate about being too wordy?
Okay, that's a lot for you to read, I'm sorry! Once again, a really, really happy birthday!
And good luck : D
Please do reply. : )
Warm regards,
Esha
New Delhi.