Q&A de febrero
Q: Elisa asks, Since you won’t be burning the candle at both ends getting a book out this year, what else will you be working on? Besides keeping life, family, home, and health together.
A: You’re joking, right? About not burning the candle? I’m six months behind on the current book, which needs a whole lot of delicate surgery, very time consuming. And I’d intended to be starting the next book by now, which means that when I DO finally put TOUCHSTONE down, I’ll immediately pick up Russell IX. Oh, and there’s the short story I promised Dana Stabenow. And research into Paris for the following book. And the Big Online Project, about which more in the future.
That candle’s got about six wicks in it, burning away.
Q: KLCtheBookWorm wants to know, Did you base the outfits that the Elves created for Mary in A Monstrous Regiment of Women on actual outfits or pictures of actual outfits. I would like to create one of the outfits (though probably not the evening gown).
A: MONSTROUS REGIMENT was written, what, fifteen years ago? I looked at any number of books on fashion in the library (this being Before Online) and went to a variety of museums in England (the V&A among others) but I couldn’t tell you after all this time just where the mental images came from, sorry. Think Chanel, with color.
Q: Kay asks, Will we find out what happens to Russell/Holmes in the large gap of time between Monstrous and Letter of Mary? The other books follow one after another within less than a year span (excluding O, Jerusalem).
A: Probably not in detail, to the disappointment of Russell readers with prurient interests concerning The Wedding Night (Yeah, I’m talking about you—do you think I don’t know about the Russell fanfic?) I’d actually written Letter of Mary as the second Russell, because I didn’t know what that middle book should look like until I could see what Russell and Holmes as a married couple looked like, and it’s hardly fair to look too closely at a couple still in the process of hammering out what a marriage is.
Having said that, I may return to some period within those years in order to lay the groundwork for a post-1924 story, but I have no immediate plans to do so.
DO YOU FEEL (DOWN DEEP INSIDE)THAT WRITING ABOUT AND USING A GAY DETECTIVE HAS HURT YOUR SALES AND SHORTENED YOUR LIFESPAN AS A WRITER?
BLIND – DAVE.
Hey, Dave!
Have you noticed Laurie is alive, well and thriving as a writer? I think those are fairly big clues that Kate has not “shortened” Laurie’s lifespan as an author. That’s what I feel deep down inside!
kay
Speaking of gay detectives. Is the going to be a book about Kate and Lee that describes the process of getting pregnant, selling their house and Nora’s birth, etc.. I feel that I missed seven years. Thanks, Kathy
>>Yeah, I’m talking about you—do you think I don’t know about the Russell fanfic?<< LOL! My daughter actually showed me the fanfic sites. In all fairness, some of the scenes are quite decent. (And, no, I do not write fanfiction, so don’t even go there.)Though the Wedding Night scenes are funny, I can’t even imagine how you would work that into a new book. If you want a good laugh, go to fanfiction.net and read some of the ones under Diana Gabaldon. Diana is a friend of mine and it kills me to see what passes as things folks want to see in her stories. It makes a gal wonder if they’ve ever even read her books…. My daughter, the high school romantic, is of the opinion Russ should definitely have a baby. That’s only because she doesn’t understand the wrench motherhood throws into the whole Exciting Life thing. 😉 Nikki
If Russell got married I don’t believe I could read the books any longer. I have faith, however.
There is a fair amount of crap fanfiction out there (I’m pretty sure I’ve read every single piece of holmes/russell fanfiction posted between “The Hive,” “Letters of Mary” and fanfiction.net.) however, there is some excellent work out there as well. the wedding night scene IS overdone but I personally dislike the baby fics. Either way, I think well-written fiction is a creative outlet…isn’t that really what LRK’s Beek series is, really awsome fanfiction???
As to the gay thing, I don’t see why anyone should have a problem with gay people at all. How does it affect them? If there’s a book written about someone who’s gay and that makes you uncomfortable, don’t read it. The only argument I can see againsta gay people is when someone has to see a PDA…but personally, I don’t want to see that stuff whether you’re the same sex or opposite.
btw…if any of you DO really like fanfiction, LOM is probably the best place to find it. Some of the most active Russell fans are continuously posting there and it has some of the top fanfiction, IMHO, plus links to almost all of the rest of it. We’d love to snag everyone we can get!
>>If Russell got married I don’t believe I could read the books any longer.<< Oh, Lord. How am I going to say this…? I hate to break it to you, but Russell’s been married for five books now. WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?! J/K, I know it’s probably just a typo. Caitlin.
I imagine Holmes and Russell were like most newlyweds – they fell asleep, and saved “the rest” for later. I know this happened with every married couple I am close friends with! hehe.
>>there is some excellent work out there as well<< Oh, no doubt. I hope I didn’t come off as one who hates fanfic. That’s certainly not the case. Some of the Wedding Night scenes are tasteful and quite poignant. Of course, there are a few I could only describe as Tab A/Slot B stuff–all physical descriptions and none of the relevant emotional context. I was only questioning the setting in which the events of that night could be worked into a new book. At this point, it would have to be done as some sort of flashback, with sound reasoning for bringing it up. Then there would be the question of just how Russell would relate the experience without embarrassment or giving TMI to her partner in conversation. I mean, we’re all blood thirsty detail hounds, but the person she’s talking to may not be. >>I think well-written fiction is a creative outlet…isn’t that really what LRK’s Beek series is, really awsome fanfiction???<< Wow, is that ever a powder keg waiting to explode! I am a member of the writers forum (actually it is now called the books and writers community) on Compuserve.com. We had a _huge_ discussion/knock down, drag out fight on this very subject. I brought up LRK’s wonderful books as an example of what can come of fan fiction (in the strictest technical sense). I was among a small percentage of those in favor, _if it’s done properly_. >>We’d love to snag everyone we can get! << Although I’m not a member there, I believe my daughter is, and she always lets me know when Wilhelmina posts a new scene. We both tend to like those. Nikki
>>Yeah, I’m talking about you—do you think I don’t know about the Russell fanfic?<< *Darts eyes nervously* Wha?? Me? Nahh. Well actually…*ahem* this was a question I asked a couple of months ago, so I am glad it got answered. I think what happened is that LRK left many fans with such a descriptive, knee shivering kiss, at the end of MRW (in much detail about how Russell was affected) that some want more. More of this, more affection…not outright, but subtle. BUT..LRK does a great job with the emotional and mental connection between the two and at times its downright alluring. I love the tension she creates in MRW!!!Or in The Game when he is combing her hair. It seems that they are so cerebral that their intimacy is on a much higher level. Ok, I confess, I have never found, “shall I shave?” sexy until I read LOM. Are her books fanfiction?
Not going to go there. As she has said, these are Mary Russell novel’s not Sherlock Holmes novels…so…but there is still a slight patische element to them…
*runs out of room*
oh dear. I meant had a baby. woops.
Okay. I am very grateful for the smiles and snickers these comments have blessed me with this morning.
1. Blind-Dave. Well, I won’t go there . . .
2. Another Okay. So, yes, I do know about the fan fiction out there. And, yes, I do read it (in a desperate attempt to tide me over until Laurie publishes another Russell book). And, yes, I do (after pre-screening them) pass the fanfics on to my daughter, who is experiencing equally strong withdrawal symptoms.
3. I second Nikki’s opinion–Wilhelmina Rush’s fiction is some of the best out there. I especially like “A Cold and Bitter Rain.”
4. “Shall I shave?” in LOM? Hmmm. I will have to reread that one again.
5. Last, but not least–if anyone could have a baby/family and still maintain their wonted quality of life and separate interests and expertly juggle career with childrearing, it would be Mary Russell …
>>if anyone could have a baby/family and still maintain their wonted quality of life and separate interests and expertly juggle career with childrearing, it would be Mary Russell …<< Hello! That’s what I’ve been trying to say the whole time! (I think I’d die laughing at the vision of Holmes changing a dirty diaper…) Caitlin
>>(I think I’d die laughing at the vision of Holmes changing a dirty diaper…)<< That shows how much you know, kid. Holmes would be exactly like your own father and pass the buck when it came to diapers. Where was Mrs. Hudson when you were a baby? [sigh] Besides, would you really sell out poor Holmes for a cheap thrill? Have a heart. Mom