[whitesilkbreeze]

Q3: Is Zelika an important part of the book?

Yes, she's a very important character. I became very fond of her...

Sounds like she's going to die.

Strangely enough, when I first mentioned 'The Pellinor Series' to a friend, she said, 'Pellinor from LOTR?' But I don't really remember if there was a Pellinor in there or not.

1. Have any of your children read the Pellinor books?

2. How do you cope with writer's block?

3. You've mentioned being influenced by Tolkein in another thread, but what other authors or objects or events have played a major part in influencing Pellinor?

[LaMalJumellen]

I think it's fantastic that you're answering your fans personal questions! You're a brilliant author and I'm thrilled that I picked up your book, it's amazing!! I haven't read the Riddle yet, as the US doesn't have it out, but I've ordered it off Amazon.co.uk and I should be getting it within the week!

Anyway I just wanted to ask a quick question about Maerad's father Dorn, do we get to know about him more, because Hem, or should I say Cai, is so much like him? Because we know that Milana was powerful, was Dorn as well?

And also do we find more out about Branar, Dorn's friend, who was supposed to be taking Hem to the Linar Caves? Is he still alive or maybe killed? Or was he the one who delivered Hem to the orphanage?

Thanks is advance for taking the time out to answer. I think you're brilliant! :D

[alison]

1. Have any of your children read the Pellinor books?

Yes, indeed - my two oldest, Josh and Zoe. They are delighted that at lats I am writing something sensible (though to be fair they have just started reading my poems...)

2. How do you cope with writer's block?

I don't believe in writer's block. Sometimes things aren't ready to be written - no one can write seven days a week. Writing is also surprisingly often about tricking yourself into it. When I can't write something, I drive my family and friends mad complaining... Or go on the message boards... :)

3. You've mentioned being influenced by Tolkein in another thread, but what other authors or objects or events have played a major part in influencing Pellinor?

The other major influence on The Gift is The Earthsea Trilogy (the idea of magery based on language is going to appeal to poets). And - though this will sound odd - Dostoevsky. Crime and Punishment is one of my all-time favourite novels, and I wanted to write a kind of straight-forward narrative novel with fantastic elements that had that kind of dramatic and emotional energy. He planned his books out in scenes, like a play, and I do think of the books in that way.

Hi LaMalJumellen - welcome! And thanks!

Anyway I just wanted to ask a quick question about Maerad's father Dorn, do we get to know about him more, because Hem, or should I say Cai, is so much like him? Because we know that Milana was powerful, was Dorn as well?

Yes, indeed, you do find out more, in the book you will soon read...

And also do we find more out about Branar, Dorn's friend, who was supposed to be taking Hem to the Linar Caves? Is he still alive or maybe killed? Or was he the one who delivered Hem to the orphanage?

Quite possibly... ;) But not for a while.

[Gemini]

Sounds like she's going to die.

Strangely enough, when I first mentioned 'The Pellinor Series' to a friend, she said, 'Pellinor from LOTR?' But I don't really remember if there was a Pellinor in there or not.
isn't it the"Pellinor Fields" or something? The land enclosed by the Ramas Echor (sp) i forget the name of the wall, at Gondor... which they COMPLETELY disregarded in the movie!

Hmmm i think you're onto something with Zelika, especially if you look at the wording of Alison's sentence :D

BTW sorry if this is a bit off-topic :o

[alison]

Aha! The Pelennor Fields - believe it or not, I hadn't thought of that one. Emphasis in a different place, tho...

Sillies, I meant I became fond of Zelika while I was writing the book!!

[Bridie]

yes there was a "fields of pellinor" outside gondor its where the witchking was killed.

[Aras]

I love this thread!!

Did the winterking love Maerad, as she loved him? Or did he just want the treesong from her - and what did you feel about the winterking when you were writing about him?

Haha, not much of a spoiler, but I didn't want to take ne chances. lol

aaaand:

Did you cry when you wrote about Maerad loosing her fingers? I cried all night I was reading the Riddle. Also, when she gets her "fingers of light" I suppose, will they stay in place of her fingers, or only when she's playing her lyre, or what?

*sigh* While it upsets me that poor Maerad looses some of her fingers, I can definitely see how it adds to the story... :(

By the way, I love the author Tamora Pierce, and I picked up your book at a bookstore and after buying it I saw she had given you a review on the back of the book! I thought this was so awesome because everytime I buy a really good book that I end up loving, it has a review by Tamora Pierce on the back...

[alison]

Q: Did the winterking love Maerad, as she loved him? Or did he just want the treesong from her - and what did you feel about the winterking when you were writing about him?

A: I really enjoyed writing the Winterking, he was really interesting to think about. I don't think there's any doubt that he was manipulating Maerad, but I also think that his feeling for her was genuine.

Q:Did you cry when you wrote about Maerad loosing her fingers? I cried all night I was reading the Riddle. Also, when she gets her "fingers of light" I suppose, will they stay in place of her fingers, or only when she's playing her lyre, or what?

A: Actually, I didn't cry at that part - I knew she had to pay some frightful price, and it's a terrible thought, especially for a musician...I spent a lot of time thinking about what it would feel like to have a hand like that. The "fingers of light" only appear when she summons her magery, so that is now the only time she can play her lyre.

[arcangelle]

this is a bit of a weird question but, how do you come up with all the names for the different places and people? did you get them from somewhere else? or did they just pop into your head?

i write poetry and short stories myself and have always been fascinated with fantasy worlds more than i ever have with the real world, but whenever im writing and trying to come up with good names for places or people i just cant think of anything that sounds good and end up using the names of real places.
So do proper fantasy novelists have some secret way of attaining the names that sound so realistic and ancient? :confused:

[Brockie]

So much illumination, thank you Alison!

In the Gift Cadvan comments on a darkness growing in Maerad, does this have to do with:

her denying her feelings for Cadvan (hopefully luuuurve)
her feeling the burden of her 'destiny'
always having people distrust or fear her
constant danger and travelling
all of the above
or something else?