This is a complete transcript of the live chat with Jonathan. Unfortunately we had some technical issues at the end, but it was a really good chat.

(For those wondering about the usernames, most of the regulars dressed up: Lockwood = Sentynel; DEPRAC = JTJonah; George_Cubbins = MrCat/Captain Internets; ghostjar = evillaugh; Lucy_n_Carlyle = Luciene; Marissa_Fittes = FuzzyLobster; Nala = Jen; locket = Footstool; Rotwell = Mwamba)

* Jonathan has joined #bartiforums
<George_Cubbins> hi!
<ghostjar> hi!
* Lockwood gives voice to Jonathan
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Hi mr Stroud!
<Marissa_Fittes> Hello!
<DEPRAC> ah yes, the author has landed
<locket> hello!
<Gaius> Rotwell, can you hear me?
<Jonathan> Hello! Nice to be with you all!
<ghostjar> a grand moment1
<ghostjar> *!
<DEPRAC> HI
<Lockwood> okay, hello and welcome, everybody!
<Jonathan> It's a great moment for me too. It's always a pleasure to be on Bartiforums
<ghostjar> sweet!
<Jonathan> I'm only sorry I don't visit more often.
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> No thank you for answering all our questions
<AnnabelWard> Hiya Jonathan! Jenny Schwarz here, I got round to joining at last :o)
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> I have a postcard from you!
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> when you visited texas
<ghostjar> really?
<Jonathan> Texas? Which bit - Austin?
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Yes, you met MWamba
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> (Missy)
<Lockwood> I think we can forgive some infrequent attendance as long as you keep writing books for us =)
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> and you signed it to Luciene
<Jonathan> Ah, yes - I remember Missy - Is she still on the forums?
<AnnabelWard> It was lovely to meet you the other week, did you get my letter yet?
<Rotwell> Nice meeting you again stroud!
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> she's Rotwell
<DEPRAC> I'm new here
<DEPRAC> a newborn babe
<Jonathan> Hello Rotwell. Hello AnnabelWard!
<ghostjar> me too
* Liasan has joined #bartiforums
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> ok, questions!
<ghostjar> hi
<Lockwood> right, yes, go forth and question
<Jonathan> Greetings DEPRAC - nice to see some Lockwood names creeping in....
<Lockwood> let's try not to all speak at once
<George_Cubbins> we all have lockwood names just for this
<Lockwood> and yes, a few of us "dressed up" for the occasion
<ghostjar> oh boy..
<ghostjar> XD
<George_Cubbins> basically all of us did tbh
<DEPRAC> may I ask one?
<George_Cubbins> it was my idea <<
<gladstone> My name is clearly old school round here now
<Jonathan> When you say 'dressed up...'
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Gladstone go away
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> We didn't use our forum names
<George_Cubbins> I'm wearing a tuxedo
<Lockwood> only in username, unfortunately. though I'm sure I'd look dashing with a rapier
<Jonathan> Hi Gladstone! All honour to the great founder of the site!
<George_Cubbins> formal occasion
* sadistik has joined #bartiforums
<ghostjar> hi
<Jonathan> I should have made more effort with my dress.
* sadistik has left #bartiforums
<Jonathan> When I say dress, I mean clothes.
<George_Cubbins> haha
<gladstone> Hey Jonathan, nice to see you.
<ghostjar> oh-kay
<AnnabelWard> Phew!!
<Jonathan> Oh, Sadistik didn't last long.
<DEPRAC> Im gonna just throw a question out there now
<DEPRAC> Can a source for a ghost be another person, or possibly animal? For instance if they cherished another living creature enough that their souls become attached to them instead of their own remains? If so, what would the agencies be forced to do then?
<Marissa_Fittes> ooh nice
<DEPRAC> I've been thinking about this
<ghostjar> you have
<ghostjar> i wonder if sadistik's coming back
<Jonathan> Hmm. That's interesting. I think that's a brilliant idea. So if a bloke loved his pet labrador, could his ghost become attached to the dog's bones (so to speak)...? Yes, I reckon that IS possible. And highly intriguing.
<Jonathan> That's got 'book three conundrum' written all over it.
<George_Cubbins> spoiler warning <_<
<DEPRAC> Great, now I'm wheezing
<AnnabelWard> It was lovely to meet you the other week, did you get my letter yet?
<ghostjar> poor you<<
<Jonathan> As for what the agencies would do, or how they'd figure it out, I don't yet know...
<George_Cubbins> I have a question
<Jonathan> Yes, I did Annabel
<Jonathan> Go for it.
<George_Cubbins> What time period is Lockwood set in?
<ghostjar> good one
<Jonathan> It's set in a roughly contemporary alternative world where the Problem of ghosts has been running riot for 50 years or so. This means that technology has fallen somewhat behind the standards we enjoy.
<George_Cubbins> cool, thanks :)
<AnnabelWard> Yay! :o) I know I'm probably bad for adding to the pile but I know you like getting letters :o)
<Jonathan> But you can still buy trainers and other modern things. Just not mobiles etc.
<George_Cubbins> and no internet?
<ghostjar> hm-hm
<George_Cubbins> what a hellish existence
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Is this because ghosts flock to inventors?
<Jonathan> It's the same kind of idea as in Bart - modern, but with a twist.
<ghostjar> question!
<Lockwood> is the technology lag because industry's focused on dealing with the ghost issue? or (someone suggested this earlier) because all the kids are up all night chasing ghosts rather than studying?
<Jonathan> No internet for sure. But people have psychic connections, which I guess is similarly stimulating.
<Jonathan> It's partly because of the basic disruption to industry and society in general - people are less focused on inventing etc, because they're so obsessed with ghosts/the afterlife etc.
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Is Greek Fire a reference to anything?
<AnnabelWard> I know the ancient Greeks had a fiery chemical substance they used to burn ships. Knowing Jonathan's love of history and mythology I assumed it was that
<Jonathan> Greek Fire was an odd and slightly mysterious historical substance used by the Byzantine empire to fight off their enemies - I just thought I'd use the term for a slightly mysterious fiery substance used for fighting ghosts.
<AnnabelWard> <- has read everything and loves ancient history
<AnnabelWard> Oh ok, I beg your pardon hehe
<AnnabelWard> I'd heard of it but didn't know it was Byzantine...
<Jonathan> Mind you, having used it, I now find I call it 'magnesium flares', which is slightly less obscure.
<DEPRAC> A friend of mine had this question, but couldnt be here
<Jonathan> Okay. Shoot.
* theonlyhani has joined #bartiforums
<ghostjar> welcome
<DEPRAC> They wanted to know if the books focus on each character’s individual development? Like book one was very much about Lucy, with hints of the boys but
<ghostjar> are all the books gonna be from lucy's POV?
<George_Cubbins> one from George's POV would be cool <<
<ghostjar> you'd say that...
<George_Cubbins> "I sat in my room all day doing research"
<ghostjar> lol
<Lockwood> "Lockwood nearly got himself killed again"
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> And the I went to the library
<Marissa_Fittes> Also donuts
<Jonathan> I've been toying with the options here. At the moment I'm sticking with Lucy's POV, but I'm going to focus in on George more in Book Two, with Lockwood hoving into focus a bit more too. I admit I was torn on the POV thing.
<George_Cubbins> "I snarked at Lucy for a while"
<ghostjar> and did yoga
<ghostjar> naked
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> with the ghostjar
<George_Cubbins> and did something suspicious with a skull in a jar
<Marissa_Fittes> you all are great
<Jonathan> You'd have certain advantages seeing things from eg George's POV, but there'd be drawbacks too...
<ghostjar> aww
<ghostjar> and lockwood's POV?
<Jonathan> George's propensity to get naked with the ghost-jar is one of his more exciting features.
<ghostjar> and bathing with it
<George_Cubbins> ;-)
<AnnabelWard> Haha
<ghostjar> very higenic
<ghostjar> :P
<Jonathan> Lockwood's POV is tempting, and I've experimented with it a bit, but it would radically shift the focus, ie. all his secrets/past mysteries etc would automatically become front of store stuff, and I'd like to drip feed them in.
<ghostjar> you could leave it for last
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> It's a different style from Bartimaeus Trilogy, I like it the way it is tbh
* Gaius has quit (Quit: Page closed)
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Why does DEPRAC not make the firms have mandatory liability insurance
<ghostjar> very talkactive, that garius
<Jonathan> True - I'd wondered if I might bring it in eventually. I was also keen to avoid first person stuff with Lockwood in case it became too Bart-like.
<Marissa_Fittes> Which is odd
<George_Cubbins> Can you comment on the prevailing opinion here that George and Lucy are obviously going to become a couple? <_<
<ghostjar> or not
<Jonathan> Oooh, an insurance question! Hmmm. You mean if your employees get ghost-touched, you pay out?
<Lockwood> Or if you burn someone's house down.
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Like insurance for when your firm kills someone
<Lockwood> Hypothetically.
<George_Cubbins> Lockwood: who would do that?
<Jonathan> Oh, I see... yeah, they probably should do somethign like that.
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Usually legal and accounting firms have that
<ghostjar> hmm, whoever would do that'
<Lockwood> George: Complete cowboys, or responsible, highly skilled operatives in a pinch.
<George_Cubbins> who forget their chains
<George_Cubbins> idiot <<
<Jonathan> I quite like exploring the social implications of a ghost epidemic. Maybe insurance will come into it at some point...
<Jonathan> Now, George and Lucy? Hmm... I couldn't possibly comment.
<AnnabelWard> Have any other countries suffered from The Problem? Or are they all in the UK?
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> It will be very expensive for Lockwood, might drive them out of business
<DEPRAC> YES
<ghostjar> ^.~
<DEPRAC> like, how big of a world phenomenon are we talking about here
<Jonathan> I think the Problem is mainly UK focused, but I'm not sure about abroad yet... It may be spreading slowly, like the plague. Northern France may be in trouble.
<ghostjar> wwproblem
<gladstone> xD
<Lockwood> hang on though, if the Problem has delayed the arrival of technology, but it's only really affecting the UK, how does that work?
<Jonathan> It's a bit like with Bart: I only figured out the wider world situation when I was writing Ptolemy's Gate, and that was only because the film guys asked me about ti.
<Nala> Hi! Happy to be here, sorry I'm late to the party. I love Lockwood&Co =D I have a question: Could Lockwood be keeping his parents in the secret room as type 3s?
<ghostjar> XD
<Jonathan> Ooh, Lockwood... that's a decent point. Okay, maybe it's going to have to be worldwide. You can see that my conceptualising is a work in progress...
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Jon, I think the solution is to come back and have us ask you more hard questions
<ghostjar> ^
<DEPRAC> Hey, what's the state of halloween now that ghosts are real
<DEPRAC> is trick or treating like a death sport now
<Jonathan> Lucy n Carlyle - I think you might be right. We could have regular sessions.
<Marissa_Fittes> Hahaha
<DEPRAC> but you know, for children
<ghostjar> a creepy, creepy thing
<Jonathan> Hello Nala. It's a good question. Another one I officially CANNOT COMMENT ON.
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> ITS TRUE
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> just kidding
<George_Cubbins> What about unofficially? ;-)
<Nala> My crazy theory might hold some merit you guys.
<ghostjar> it does
<Jonathan> Hello DEPRAC: Halloween is something that no one in their right mind would care to celebrate.
<ghostjar> who's in their right mind, anyways?
<Jonathan> Any trick or treating is likely to get you skewered with a rapier.
<ghostjar> ouch
<AnnabelWard> Hehe
<Marissa_Fittes> Quite a few ghosts in the story would have died back before the Problem started. Was there any smaller, isolated incidents back before about 50 years ago, or were they all 'dormant'?
<Marissa_Fittes> *were
<ghostjar> did they just dissappear?
<Rotwell> One more question on insurance, if it exists, would there be an issue with fraud
<Jonathan> Hello Marissa: yes, there have always been isolated ghost incidents, thru history: it's just been in the last couple of generations that things have started getting a bit more troublesome and widespread.
<Rotwell> An aging child who commits 'ghost touch fraud' and collects a check
<Jonathan> When you say 'ghost touch fraud' how do you mean? How can this be faked?
<Jonathan> You sort of swell up and turn blue.
<George_Cubbins> makeup
<George_Cubbins> and being fat
<ghostjar> well, what about fake gl charms?
<ghostjar> i think they'd notice, though
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> You can give the doctors a cut
<DEPRAC> oh my god, George
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Is there any significance in the fact that Lucy is a seventh daughter?
<Jonathan> It's a good point and another great idea that you have given me... there must be lots of fraudulence attached to the whole ghost industry: weird charms and things that just don't work. A bit like all the dodgy magical paraphernalia the magicians used to sell in the Bart stories.
<DEPRAC> Are there animals that have appeared as ghosts?
<DEPRAC> Or is it just humans?
<Jonathan> Seventh daughter... hmm, I didn't consciously fix that... must be of definite subliminal significance.
<ghostjar> is it just the sentient?
<ghostjar> maybe she's powerful because or that
<Jonathan> DEPRAC: I think just humans, though they have appeared as animal ghosts, if you see what I mean.
<Nala> Did you purposely describe lucy as a slightly less skinny girl, for the sake of slightly unhappy teenage girls everywhere?
<Jonathan> I think sentience is crucial.
<AnnabelWard> What/where is the inspiration behind Combe Carey Hall? The name rings a bell but I just can't find it. I could have imagined it...
<ghostjar> can there be possesion in te books?
<ghostjar> *the
<Jonathan> Nala: well, I'm conscious that there's a tendency for most heroes and heroines to be a certain shape, and I didn't want Lucy to be too petite, just as George isn't an ideal shape either.
<Jonathan> 'ideal' should have had inverted commas there.
<ghostjar> a slappable face and all that
<George_Cubbins> :(
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> I like that George seems comfortable with who he is
<Rotwell> is that a subtle hint for a budding romance? <.<
<Nala> I love that you did that - thank you! =)
<AnnabelWard> Oh and I found The Girl in the Tower the other week! A nice idea but I'd love to have seen where it could have gone with a bit more room...
<ghostjar> don't feed the animals
<Jonathan> Rotwell: you have sophisticated antennae.
<Jonathan> Annabel: Combe Carey was made up, but it's got an echo of Evelyn Waugh's pad, which was Combe Florey.
<ghostjar> is it gonna be a trilogy?
<Lockwood> so if the Problem is worldwide, do the Americans hunt ghosts with rock salt shotguns?
<Jonathan> I like it that George is comfy with himself too.
<ghostjar> now, that would be something
<DEPRAC> us americans and our guns
<DEPRAC> ah yes
<ghostjar> why don't the english do it, then?
<Jonathan> Annabel: the girl in the tower is a very ancient piece - I'm amazed you found it! An experiment, really.
<George_Cubbins> it's a supernatural reference
<George_Cubbins> we don't have many guns
<ghostjar> suuure
<Jonathan> Ghostjar: I think there may be at least 4 books.
<ghostjar> yay!
<ghostjar> will there a kinda sequel?
<AnnabelWard> Someone updated your website so I double-checked the list of "Other Works" :o) Speaking of which, have you ever read the Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke?
<Jonathan> Lockwood: I think (off the top of my head) each country would have their own approach. Note all the ethnice ghost-hunting apparatus on LW's walls.
<ghostjar> like, about rotwell and fittes?
<Jonathan> A sequel following the characters in R and Fittes? I don't think so, but they will have larger parts to play in LW's story as time goes on.
<DEPRAC> I just texted my friend "at least 4 books" and she's flailing now
<ghostjar> were lw's parents some kind of merchants?
<Jonathan> Flailing in a good way? I mean, she's not foaming at the mouth, or anything?
<DEPRAC> in a good way
<DEPRAC> I detected screeching though
<ghostjar> lol
<Jonathan> Lockwood's parents were researchers, who went off to parts foreign and brought back all sorts of interesting bits and pieces, as will be eventually seen.
<Jonathan> Annabel: No.
<George_Cubbins> I just thought of something
<Jonathan> Yes?
<Jonathan> Speak up.
<ghostjar> i suppose there will be a big misterious case from which died?
<George_Cubbins> How long have they had that ghost jar, and how have they managed not to open its speaking valves until now
<Nala> if George is anything like in the book, he *knows* how to speak up =p
<ghostjar> :P
<Jonathan> Ghostjar: who, the parents?
<ghostjar> yes
<Jonathan> ALL WILL BE REVEALLED.
<ghostjar> ominous
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Mr. Stroud, I live in Canada and I have a quibble with our version. It's very american. The temperature is in Fahrenheit, donut is spelled wrong...
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> It's very upsetting
<AnnabelWard> It's got a similar thing to The Girl in the Tower... Characters coming out of and going into books and so on. I didn't actually make this connection - my Mum did -.-
<Jonathan> George: you stole that ghost-jar, George, I'm surprised you don't remember. There'll be more on this in book 2: The Whispering Skull, which I'm scribbling now.
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Also, I think the language is slightly sanitized
<George_Cubbins> Well, I've been too busy getting naked with the bloody thing.
<ghostjar> XD
<ghostjar> and bathing with it
<Jonathan> Lucy: it's the same with the Bart books: you guys have the US version. You also have 'cookie' instead of 'biscuit' in your version.
<George_Cubbins> of course
<ghostjar> meh
<ghostjar> Farenheit
<DEPRAC> Will our Dynamic Trio stop tempting fate quite so often in the future?
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> But the temperature is a much bigger deal,
<Nala> I've been scared of ghosts every time I've been having tea and biscuits lately. How do you feel about ruining this otherwise cozy experience for me by association?
<DEPRAC> because at the end of every chapter, they sure made a point to do that
<Marissa_Fittes> Yeah, the US/Canada thing is weird, we get British Pratchett's and Rowling's but American versions of other series, I think it's a publishing thing
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> because we use Celsius
<ghostjar> no
<Jonathan> Lucy: I'm sad to say that a very very inoffensive word that was in the first para on page 1 was removed from BOTH US and UK editions.
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> I know, I was dissappointed
<Jonathan> DEPRAC: how do you mean tempting fate?
<ghostjar> which word?
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> it replaced messing up
<DEPRAC> okay, stroud, im going to just pull up an example here, hold on
<Jonathan> ghost-jar: the phrase in question was 'cocked up'.
<Lockwood> oh, was that in one of the previews that went up in original form?
<Jonathan> Probably, yes.
<ghostjar> can't recall
<AnnabelWard> Ooooooh and one other thing. I got permission today to do a Lockwood display in our library for Halloween :D I may have to go iron chain shopping...
<Lockwood> technical question about the mechanics of the iron chain circles - at one point, a ghost enters a circle from above, but most don't seem to be able to do this. what's the deal? how far upwards does the circle's protection rise? ghosts are shown getting right up to the boundary, they just can't cross.
<DEPRAC> okay im ready
<Jonathan> Nala: I'm sorry about ruining tea and biccies for you. This will weigh on my conscience. What do you take as an alternative?
<DEPRAC> ""At least Annabel Ward’s dealt with," I said. "That’s a little consolation." He grunted. “Yeah. You did that bit right, at least.”"
<Jonathan> Good stuff, Annabel.
<DEPRAC> "whats the worst that could happen"
<DEPRAC> "we'll be FINE"
<Nala> Jonathan: hot chocolate replaces both tea and biscuits
<ghostjar> sure
<DEPRAC> "With our combined talents, what can possibly go wrong?"
<ghostjar> *groan*
<ghostjar> the guy should learn about murphy's law
<Jonathan> Lockwood: that's a good point and it had worried me a bit too. I think generally the effect of the iron circle extends up (and down) a fair way, so unless you were unlucky enough to have the Source hidden directly under your feet at the centre of the circle, you'd be okay. But the Changer in the Red Room is powerful enough, and the circle they created big enough, for their to be a kind of weak spot in the middle.
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<ghostjar> it were 7 type 2's
<ghostjar> hi!
<Jonathan> Hello Aggron
<ghostjar> glad you could make it
<Marissa_Fittes> Aggron!
<Nala> Serious question: in 2 years, bartiforums will be turning 10 years old. would you be interested in attending a bartimaeus/lockwood meetup, if a) we manage to make one, and b) you are given enough advanced notice?
<Aggron> darn, it's hard on the captcha
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> It will be held in Toronto
<ghostjar> don't you have x-chat?
<ghostjar> why toronto?
<Jonathan> DEPRAC: it's a fair cop: they DO tempt fate in a very foolish way. Very regularly. I'll keep an eye on them.
<Marissa_Fittes> yes thank you luch
<Nala> the location is being discussed.
<Marissa_Fittes> *lucy
<gladstone> venue tbc Lucy :P
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> It's Toronto
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> because Jon hasn't been here yet
<ghostjar> great
<Jonathan> I would LOVE to attend a 10th anniversary celebration. I love Bartiforums and all its members wholeheartedly.
<Marissa_Fittes> Do the characters know why iron and silver etc. work against ghosts, or did people find out from trial and error?
<ghostjar> a world-wide travel
<AnnabelWard> I'm thinking black with fake cobwebs and maybe iron chains (for the display) if I can find some cheapish. Any other thoughts?
<Nala> Squee!
<Jonathan> But aren't you spread to the four winds: Canada, UK... where else?
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> the US
<Nala> Norway
<ghostjar> spain
<Jonathan> I went to Toronto many years ago and went up that tall spaceship thing.
<ghostjar> (currently germany)
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> You mean the CN Tower?
<Aggron> Indonesia
<Nala> some if not most of us are old enough to travel alone, luckily
<ghostjar> some
<ghostjar> others, however...
<Aggron> right
<DEPRAC> so does george also have dead parents
<gladstone> maybe we'll have 3D holograms cracked in the next 2 years?
<Jonathan> Marissa: Iron and silver have been the materials of choice against ghosts since time immemorial. No one is quite sure why, though DEPRAC scientists are on the case trying to figure it out in a bunker somewhere.
<ghostjar> we wish
<Jonathan> Seriously: how would we manage a Bartiforums meet up?
<DEPRAC> Summon a djinn
<DEPRAC> black magic
<ghostjar> maybe in london?
<Lockwood> I guess we'd have to announce well in advance, pick a central location, and see how many people can make it
<Jonathan> George's parents (at the time of typing) are alive. This is probably why he is so well adjusted, beneath his sarcasm.
<Nala> We would pick a location that is easily accessible internationally. London would be great for us europeans but I can stretch to the states if I have to.
<ghostjar> or make a tour
<George_Cubbins> London seems like a good place
<locket> I concur
<Marissa_Fittes> I may have to skype
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> I can make London
<Jonathan> Maybe we could have 2 meetings: one in London, one in the US/Canada when i was over for a tour or something.
<ghostjar> how many years 'till then?
<Marissa_Fittes> I can make it to London, Ontario. :P
<DEPRAC> Where in the US/Canada region
<Aggron> can't go anywhere abroad except singapore
<DEPRAC> oh haha same
<Jonathan> I'm sorry that I haven't been answering conventional questions recently. I know there's a backlog.
<ghostjar> well, you bother with it, at least
<Jonathan> I've a question: how does this IRC work: once we all log off, is the record of our conversation gone, as if it had never been? Does it just exist in the present?
<George_Cubbins> some of us keep logs
<DEPRAC> copy ad paste
<DEPRAC> Im keeping a log
<DEPRAC> for tumblr reasons, but yes
<Lockwood> yeah, I'll post up the log of the conversation on the site somewhere so people can check back
<Marissa_Fittes> I've got one too
<Nala> We could start planning it next summer, so that we'll have a year to hash out the details. I know some of us who would like to volunteer with the organising, and you would of course be as involved as is convenient for you, JS.
<ghostjar> the names will have to be changed, though
<DEPRAC> by the way, those beautiful new covers for the bart books in China.It says the artists name is Shel, but I cant seem to find them.
<Jonathan> Sounds great.
<ghostjar> can you link?
<Jonathan> Which names?
<DEPRAC> wait, should I link?
<ghostjar> yes
<DEPRAC> I mean like this one over here:
<DEPRAC> http://jonathanstroud.tumblr.com/post/6 ... edition-of
<Jonathan> They are cracking covers, aren't they? Yes, I was told she was called Shel, but I couldn't track her down either. I'm going to investigate further.
<DEPRAC> http://jonathanstroud.tumblr.com/post/6 ... golems-eye
<DEPRAC> http://jonathanstroud.tumblr.com/post/6 ... lomon-will
<DEPRAC> there we go
<Lockwood> oh, I had a question about the staircase - how come people know about it? it's been pretty fatal from what we've seen of it. did it used to be survivable pre-Problem?
<DEPRAC> ah well, thanks though!
<George_Cubbins> I have a question: who inspired the character of Lucy?
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> He means the name
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Why did you pick that name
* Lucy_n_Carlyle is now known as Luciene
<ghostjar> it was getting kinda confusing, wasn't it?
<DEPRAC> Well Im keeping this nickname
<DEPRAC> being a government agency is fun
<Jonathan> Lockwood: It's fatal if you're on it, but some people close by must have survived, or heard the sound from afar, or found the bodies on it, and so the story spread.
<ghostjar> i like mine too
<ghostjar> and most didn't survive
<ghostjar> what with all the horror sories
<ghostjar> *stories
<Nala> We've been comparing Lockwood to Sherlock Holmes. Is any resemblance there intentional?
<Jonathan> Why did I pick Lucy? It's a great name in several ways. I've always liked it. And it has echoes of the Lucy in Narnia who went into other worlds.
<ghostjar> :)
<Luciene> I love Narnia!
<Luciene> I'll take it
<DEPRAC> I have noticed that Barnes reminds me a bit of Lestrade
<ghostjar> who?
<Nala> Do you think people from the lockwood universe could cross over to where ghosts come from? is it like a gate that has been opened?
<DEPRAC> the detective
<AnnabelWard> Holmes reminds me more of Bart - smart and totally disrespectful of authority!
<ghostjar> without footnotes
<George_Cubbins> well, there is the onscreen text in the bbc version <<
<ghostjar> :S
<AnnabelWard> Yes, there is that...
<Jonathan> Nala: at one point Lockwood had some Conan Doyle in his bookshelf. I think LW rather self-consciously models himself on that kind of hero.
<Jonathan> Luciene: yes, Narnia's fab.
<ghostjar> and george?
<ghostjar> any hero for him
<ghostjar> ?
<Jonathan> Barnes does have a certain Lestradish quality, I admit.
<Lockwood> I read the opening paragraphs as a definite Holmes reference, stylistically (before Lucy admits to cocking it all up) - was that deliberate, then?
<Jonathan> Conan Doyle wrote lots of gothic tales. Ghost stories and detective fiction have always been hand in glove.
<AnnabelWard> I was about to also point out the high-class clientele but I will bow to Jonathan's superior knowledge...
<Aggron> bye, guys, I gotta sign out, mom's already mad at me
<Luciene> bye Aggron
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<DEPRAC> seeya Aggron
<Jonathan> Nala: It may be possible.
<ghostjar> too bad
<Jonathan> Bye Aggron. sorry, Aggron's mum.
<AnnabelWard> *crosses out daft Stroudian theory #2*
<Jonathan> ghostjar: George is somehow just George. I'm very fond of him.
<Luciene> Jon, do you read the books to your kids as you write it? Or do you wait until its sent to the editor?
<Jonathan> Lockwood: yes, definite echoes of Watson's trick of telling you about all sorts of yummy cases you're never going to truly find out about.
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<ghostjar> never? :(
<DEPRAC> Everyone is fond of George. He is as graceful as a cumbersome heavy textbook, and carries the poise of a dying porpoise
<ghostjar> and still is funny
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<Nala> George's sexiest scene is when he comes to Lockwood's rescue in the library, verbally.
<Jonathan> Luciene: My kids aren't quite old enough yet, but theoretically I might let them look - once I was fairly confident in what I was doing. I tend to keep it quite close to my chest in the early phases.
<ghostjar> 'sexiest'? ugh
<DEPRAC> what are you trying to say ghostjar
<Jonathan> DEPRAC: yes, George is rather noble, I think.
<ghostjar> i don't like romance
<ghostjar> i hope fanon won't do a number on him
<Jonathan> I like to give my characters lots of nice verbal heroics - the kind of thing I'd love to be able to do myself in real life, but can't because I'm a) not quick enough and b) would get beaten up.
<ghostjar> that's a bit drastic
<DEPRAC> I can totally feel that I always suddenly think up good comebacks long after an argument is over
<ghostjar> me too
<Nala> You should team up with lockwood to defend you physically after you verbally crush your opponents <<
<Jonathan> Yes, it's annoying that. One becomes so retrospectively witty.
<ghostjar> you can always hide here
<Lockwood> the French call it l'espirit de l'escalier
<Lockwood> staircase wit.
<DEPRAC> the french say a lot of things
<ghostjar> lol
<AnnabelWard> How appropriate..
<Luciene> Jon, are there any intentional parallels to child slavery or child soldiers? The kids do all the heavy lifting while the adults "mind them"
<Jonathan> Nala: I think that's why I like Lockwood, Lucy and George: they each bring something to the party. Verbals, wit, sensitivity, each contributing all at different times.
<ghostjar> the perfect trio, then
<Jonathan> Lockwood: ooh, nice. 'staircase wit' - why staircase, exactly?
<Nala> Related to what Luciene is asking.. would you say that after the Problem arrived, class differences have become more severe, and that people are less kind to each other than before? Like when Lucy's first group died, but nobody seemed to care about it really, it was just passed over as an accident at work - and they were young teenagers.
<Lockwood> Wikipedia suggests it originates from a French philosopher's writing, and at the time and culture, reception rooms would have been on the first floor
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<DEPRAC> I just did a quick google and according to wikipedia (faulty, I know)
<Lockwood> so it refers to the things you come up with after leaving the party
<DEPRAC> oh there we go
<DEPRAC> thanks lockwood
<ghostjar> uh, mrcat, what you doing here?
<mrcat> had to go out. ircing on phone
<ghostjar> ah
<ghostjar> why not the computer
<DEPRAC> because he had to go out
<DEPRAC> I would assume
<mrcat> that
<ghostjar> and the nick?
<mrcat> its my nick...
<DEPRAC> would it be alright if I asked a bart question or should I save that for the forums
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<Lockwood> alright guys, I think we're having some technical difficulties over here
<Lockwood> it's been fun, and thank you all very much for coming
<Lockwood> I'll stick the transcript up somewhere on the forum presently
<Lockwood> thank you and goodnight!
<Sentynel> hi folks
<Sentynel> just had a message from Mr Stroud
<Sentynel> his net connection fell over
<Sentynel> he apologises for the abrupt exit

Yes, sorry about the abrupt finish there - my connection went belly up. It was great chatting with you all, and it would be fantastic to do it again sometime. Maybe a Bart chat next?

Thank you very much, JS!

We would love to have another chat with you!

Thanks very much, the whole thing was very fun!

For everyone who missed it - this is a Summary of all the questions asked I bolded the questions so don't be intimidated by the wall of bold in the beginning!

An unedited transcript can be found HERE

Mwamba's attempt to make the new insights today more easily digestible.

<DEPRAC> Im gonna just throw a question out there now
<DEPRAC> Can a source for a ghost be another person, or possibly animal? For instance if they cherished another living creature enough that their souls become attached to them instead of their own remains? If so, what would the agencies be forced to do then?
<Jonathan> Hmm. That's interesting. I think that's a brilliant idea. So if a bloke loved his pet labrador, could his ghost become attached to the dog's bones (so to speak)...? Yes, I reckon that IS possible. And highly intriguing.
<Jonathan> That's got 'book three conundrum' written all over it.

<George_Cubbins> What time period is Lockwood set in?
<Jonathan> It's set in a roughly contemporary alternative world where the Problem of ghosts has been running riot for 50 years or so. This means that technology has fallen somewhat behind the standards we enjoy.
<Jonathan> It's the same kind of idea as in Bart - modern, but with a twist.

<George_Cubbins> and no internet?
<Jonathan> No internet for sure. But people have psychic connections, which I guess is similarly stimulating.

<Lockwood> is the technology lag because industry's focused on dealing with the ghost issue? or (someone suggested this earlier) because all the kids are up all night chasing ghosts rather than studying?
<Jonathan> It's partly because of the basic disruption to industry and society in general - people are less focused on inventing etc, because they're so obsessed with ghosts/the afterlife etc.

<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Is Greek Fire a reference to anything?
<Jonathan> Greek Fire was an odd and slightly mysterious historical substance used by the Byzantine empire to fight off their enemies - I just thought I'd use the term for a slightly mysterious fiery substance used for fighting ghosts.
<Jonathan> Mind you, having used it, I now find I call it 'magnesium flares', which is slightly less obscure.

<DEPRAC> They wanted to know if the books focus on each character’s individual development? Like book one was very much about Lucy, with hints of the boys but
<ghostjar> are all the books gonna be from lucy's POV?
<Jonathan> I've been toying with the options here. At the moment I'm sticking with Lucy's POV, but I'm going to focus in on George more in Book Two, with Lockwood hoving into focus a bit more too. I admit I was torn on the POV thing.

<George_Cubbins> one from George's POV would be cool <<
<Jonathan> You'd have certain advantages seeing things from eg George's POV, but there'd be drawbacks too...
<Jonathan> George's propensity to get naked with the ghost-jar is one of his more exciting features.

<ghostjar> and lockwood's POV?
<Jonathan> Lockwood's POV is tempting, and I've experimented with it a bit, but it would radically shift the focus, ie. all his secrets/past mysteries etc would automatically become front of store stuff, and I'd like to drip feed them in.

<ghostjar> you could leave it for last
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> It's a different style from Bartimaeus Trilogy, I like it the way it is tbh
<Jonathan> True - I'd wondered if I might bring it in eventually. I was also keen to avoid first person stuff with Lockwood in case it became too Bart-like.

<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Why does DEPRAC not make the firms have mandatory liability insurance
<Jonathan> Oooh, an insurance question! Hmmm. You mean if your employees get ghost-touched, you pay out?
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Like insurance for when your firm kills someone
<Jonathan> Oh, I see... yeah, they probably should do somethign like that.
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Usually legal and accounting firms have that
<Jonathan> I quite like exploring the social implications of a ghost epidemic. Maybe insurance will come into it at some point...

<George_Cubbins> Can you comment on the prevailing opinion here that George and Lucy are obviously going to become a couple? <_<
<Jonathan> Now, George and Lucy? Hmm... I couldn't possibly comment.

<AnnabelWard> Have any other countries suffered from The Problem? Or are they all in the UK?
<Jonathan> I think the Problem is mainly UK focused, but I'm not sure about abroad yet... It may be spreading slowly, like the plague. Northern France may be in trouble.
<Jonathan> It's a bit like with Bart: I only figured out the wider world situation when I was writing Ptolemy's Gate, and that was only because the film guys asked me about ti.
<Lockwood> hang on though, if the Problem has delayed the arrival of technology, but it's only really affecting the UK, how does that work?
<Jonathan> Ooh, Lockwood... that's a decent point. Okay, maybe it's going to have to be worldwide. You can see that my conceptualising is a work in progress...

<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Jon, I think the solution is to come back and have us ask you more hard questions
<Jonathan> Lucy n Carlyle - I think you might be right. We could have regular sessions.

<Nala> Hi! Happy to be here, sorry I'm late to the party. I love Lockwood&Co =D I have a question: Could Lockwood be keeping his parents in the secret room as type 3s?
<Jonathan> Hello Nala. It's a good question. Another one I officially CANNOT COMMENT ON.

<DEPRAC> Hey, what's the state of halloween now that ghosts are real
<Jonathan> Hello DEPRAC: Halloween is something that no one in their right mind would care to celebrate.
<Jonathan> Any trick or treating is likely to get you skewered with a rapier.

<Marissa_Fittes> Quite a few ghosts in the story would have died back before the Problem started. Was there any smaller, isolated incidents back before about 50 years ago, or were they all 'dormant'?
<Jonathan> Hello Marissa: yes, there have always been isolated ghost incidents, thru history: it's just been in the last couple of generations that things have started getting a bit more troublesome and widespread.

<Rotwell> One more question on insurance, if it exists, would there be an issue with fraud
<Rotwell> An aging child who commits 'ghost touch fraud' and collects a check
<Jonathan> When you say 'ghost touch fraud' how do you mean? How can this be faked?
<Jonathan> You sort of swell up and turn blue.
<George_Cubbins> makeup
<George_Cubbins> and being fat
<ghostjar> well, what about fake gl charms?
<ghostjar> i think they'd notice, though
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> You can give the doctors a cut
<Jonathan> It's a good point and another great idea that you have given me... there must be lots of fraudulence attached to the whole ghost industry: weird charms and things that just don't work. A bit like all the dodgy magical paraphernalia the magicians used to sell in the Bart stories.

<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Is there any significance in the fact that Lucy is a seventh daughter?
<Jonathan> Seventh daughter... hmm, I didn't consciously fix that... must be of definite subliminal significance.

<DEPRAC> Are there animals that have appeared as ghosts?
<Jonathan> DEPRAC: I think just humans, though they have appeared as animal ghosts, if you see what I mean.
<Jonathan> I think sentience is crucial.

<Nala> Did you purposely describe lucy as a slightly less skinny girl, for the sake of slightly unhappy teenage girls everywhere?
<Jonathan> Nala: well, I'm conscious that there's a tendency for most heroes and heroines to be a certain shape, and I didn't want Lucy to be too petite, just as George isn't an ideal shape either.
<Jonathan> 'ideal' should have had inverted commas there.
<Rotwell> is that a subtle hint for a budding romance? <.<
<Jonathan> Rotwell: you have sophisticated antennae.


<AnnabelWard> What/where is the inspiration behind Combe Carey Hall? The name rings a bell but I just can't find it. I could have imagined it...
<Jonathan> Annabel: Combe Carey was made up, but it's got an echo of Evelyn Waugh's pad, which was Combe Florey.
<AnnabelWard> Oh and I found The Girl in the Tower the other week! A nice idea but I'd love to have seen where it could have gone with a bit more room...
<Jonathan> Annabel: the girl in the tower is a very ancient piece - I'm amazed you found it! An experiment, really.
<Jonathan> Ghostjar: I think there may be at least 4 books.
<AnnabelWard> Someone updated your website so I double-checked the list of "Other Works" :o) Speaking of which, have you ever read the Inkheart trilogy by Cornelia Funke?
<Jonathan> Annabel: No
<AnnabelWard> It's got a similar thing to The Girl in the Tower... Characters coming out of and going into books and so on. I didn't actually make this connection - my Mum did -.-

<ghostjar> is it gonna be a trilogy?
<Jonathan> Ghostjar: I think there may be at least 4 books.
<ghostjar> will there a kinda sequel?<ghostjar> like, about rotwell and fittes?
<Jonathan> A sequel following the characters in R and Fittes? I don't think so, but they will have larger parts to play in LW's story as time goes on.

<Lockwood> so if the Problem is worldwide, do the Americans hunt ghosts with rock salt shotguns?
<Jonathan> Lockwood: I think (off the top of my head) each country would have their own approach. Note all the ethnice ghost-hunting apparatus on LW's walls.

<ghostjar> were lw's parents some kind of merchants?
<Jonathan> Lockwood's parents were researchers, who went off to parts foreign and brought back all sorts of interesting bits and pieces, as will be eventually seen.

<ghostjar> will there a kinda sequel?
<ghostjar> like, about rotwell and fittes?
<Jonathan> A sequel following the characters in R and Fittes? I don't think so, but they will have larger parts to play in LW's story as time goes on.



<ghostjar> i suppose there will be a big misterious case from which died?
<Jonathan> Ghostjar: who, the parents?
<ghostjar> yes
<Jonathan> ALL WILL BE REVEALLED.

<George_Cubbins> How long have they had that ghost jar, and how have they managed not to open its speaking valves until now
<Jonathan> George: you stole that ghost-jar, George, I'm surprised you don't remember. There'll be more on this in book 2: The Whispering Skull, which I'm scribbling now.
<George_Cubbins> Well, I've been too busy getting naked with the bloody thing.

<Lucy_n_Carlyle> Mr. Stroud, I live in Canada and I have a quibble with our version. It's very american. The temperature is in Fahrenheit, donut is spelled wrong...
<Jonathan> Lucy: it's the same with the Bart books: you guys have the US version. You also have 'cookie' instead of 'biscuit' in your version.
<Jonathan> Lucy: I'm sad to say that a very very inoffensive word that was in the first para on page 1 was removed from BOTH US and UK editions.
<ghostjar> which word?
<Lucy_n_Carlyle> it replaced messing up
<Jonathan> ghost-jar: the phrase in question was 'cocked up'.

<Lockwood> technical question about the mechanics of the iron chain circles - at one point, a ghost enters a circle from above, but most don't seem to be able to do this. what's the deal? how far upwards does the circle's protection rise? ghosts are shown getting right up to the boundary, they just can't cross.
<Jonathan> Lockwood: that's a good point and it had worried me a bit too. I think generally the effect of the iron circle extends up (and down) a fair way, so unless you were unlucky enough to have the Source hidden directly under your feet at the centre of the circle, you'd be okay. But the Changer in the Red Room is powerful enough, and the circle they created big enough, for their to be a kind of weak spot in the middle.

<Nala> Serious question: in 2 years, bartiforums will be turning 10 years old. would you be interested in attending a bartimaeus/lockwood meetup, if a) we manage to make one, and b) you are given enough advanced notice?
<Jonathan> I would LOVE to attend a 10th anniversary celebration. I love Bartiforums and all its members wholeheartedly.
<Jonathan> Maybe we could have 2 meetings: one in London, one in the US/Canada when i was over for a tour or something.

<Marissa_Fittes> Do the characters know why iron and silver etc. work against ghosts, or did people find out from trial and error?
<Jonathan> Marissa: Iron and silver have been the materials of choice against ghosts since time immemorial. No one is quite sure why, though DEPRAC scientists are on the case trying to figure it out in a bunker somewhere.

<DEPRAC> so does george also have dead parents
<Jonathan> George's parents (at the time of typing) are alive. This is probably why he is so well adjusted, beneath his sarcasm.

<Lockwood> oh, I had a question about the staircase - how come people know about it? it's been pretty fatal from what we've seen of it. did it used to be survivable pre-Problem?
<Jonathan> Lockwood: It's fatal if you're on it, but some people close by must have survived, or heard the sound from afar, or found the bodies on it, and so the story spread.

<George_Cubbins> I have a question: who inspired the character of Lucy?
<Jonathan> Why did I pick Lucy? It's a great name in several ways. I've always liked it. And it has echoes of the Lucy in Narnia who went into other worlds.

<DEPRAC> I have noticed that Barnes reminds me a bit of Lestrade
<Jonathan> Barnes does have a certain Lestradish quality, I admit.

<AnnabelWard> Holmes reminds me more of Bart - smart and totally disrespectful of authority!
<Jonathan> Nala: at one point Lockwood had some Conan Doyle in his bookshelf. I think LW rather self-consciously models himself on that kind of hero.
<Lockwood> I read the opening paragraphs as a definite Holmes reference, stylistically (before Lucy admits to cocking it all up) - was that deliberate, then?
<Jonathan> Conan Doyle wrote lots of gothic tales. Ghost stories and detective fiction have always been hand in glove.
<Jonathan> Lockwood: yes, definite echoes of Watson's trick of telling you about all sorts of yummy cases you're never going to truly find out about.

<Nala> Do you think people from the lockwood universe could cross over to where ghosts come from? is it like a gate that has been opened?
<Jonathan> Nala: It may be possible.

<Luciene> Jon, do you read the books to your kids as you write it? Or do you wait until its sent to the editor?
<Jonathan> Luciene: My kids aren't quite old enough yet, but theoretically I might let them look - once I was fairly confident in what I was doing. I tend to keep it quite close to my chest in the early phases.

<Nala> George's sexiest scene is when he comes to Lockwood's rescue in the library, verbally.
<Jonathan> I like to give my characters lots of nice verbal heroics - the kind of thing I'd love to be able to do myself in real life, but can't because I'm a) not quick enough and b) would get beaten up.

<Nala> You should team up with lockwood to defend you physically after you verbally crush your opponents <<
<Jonathan> Nala: I think that's why I like Lockwood, Lucy and George: they each bring something to the party. Verbals, wit, sensitivity, each contributing all at different times.

<Luciene> Jon, are there any intentional parallels to child slavery or child soldiers? The kids do all the heavy lifting while the adults "mind them"
<Nala> Related to what Luciene is asking.. would you say that after the Problem arrived, class differences have become more severe, and that people are less kind to each other than before? Like when Lucy's first group died, but nobody seemed to care about it really, it was just passed over as an accident at work - and they were young teenagers.
**Timeout Point :(**

Bonus-Unrelated-Insight:
[* Gaius has quit (Quit: Page closed)
<ghostjar> very talkactive, that garius]
(For the record Gaius is my boyfriend who has yet to read anything of Stroud's. I'm working on fixing that.)

---

:O Darn you Lucy that you posted a summary first (and more organized than I)!

Mwamba: Great minds - I like yours - it's easily accessible.

I wish that I were able to attend...unfortunately, my Wi-fi had chosen that moment to die on me. Thank you for the transcripts.

Bring back your Wi-Fi and kill it with a rusty pin :P

All in all, i'd say it was a sucess, especially since we managed not to scare him off too badly

I hereby damn my temporarily broken pc for all eternity, for making me not able to attend!!!!!! Got it back from repairs today :'(
Same reason I really haven't been online the last two weeks. Guess I'm gonna read the transcript then :-/

Stroud said he would come back to do another one!

A barti one, if i recall correctly. Can't wait for it!

Oh, I simply used a variety of medieval torture devices on my Wi-fi.
Such an abundance of R-rated words were streaming relentlessly through my mind that day...

Medieval tortures, eh? Fitting, since that it seems that it came from that era. ;)

It indeed did XD

Thanks so much for posting this, I was out looking for puff balls. I didn't even get to make it to the after after party.

Puff balls?
Okaaaaaayyy...

If I recall correctly a puff ball is a type of mushroom.

1. Did you find any? 2. If you did then why didn't I get one. :P S'okay, not really a mushroom person.

Sorry I couldn't attend it either! Wanted to, esp when you sent the email Luciene. But I was having a very busy day in the lab. :( Hopefully I will be able to attend the Bart chat!

If it happens sometimes this century, that is.
Hm, we'll have to nag until he agrees...