Ask the Author: Jonathan Stroud
Answered Questions (88)
Jonathan Stroud
One day, I hope we'll have both!
Jonathan Stroud
My first novel, Buried Fire, had among its protagonists an adult vicar... I'd certainly be up for writing books with grown-up characters if it suited the story. Teens are great, though, because they have a foot in two worlds, and everyone can relate to them.
Jonathan Stroud
Well, even as a small kid I had an itch to write (and draw... to make stuff, in other words). I love hearing great stories, and when I do I have a strong, irrational desire to invent stories of my own - it's continuing a conversation with great books of the past.
Jonathan Stroud
Lockwood's taking up all my time at the moment, but I have files with ideas for other series (and stand-alones) waiting their moment in the sun.
Jonathan Stroud
Ooh, good questions. Well, I'll answer the crossover one. I think not: it's tempting to have some kind of crossover between the two universes, but if I did that it would at once undercut all the rules that govern both series. The funny thing about writing fantasy is that it has to have cast-iron rules: if you deviate from them, then anything can happen, and the reader straightaway loses interest. I did once have George reading a comic about a genie, but that's as close as it went (and I may have even cut that!).
Jonathan Stroud
Hello! Well, I hope so - currently Universal Studios have the film option for the Lockwood series, and I think they're intending to create a screenplay... So I'm keeping my fingers crossed!
Jonathan Stroud
Ptolemy was always in the shadows, through most of the writing of the trilogy. I knew he existed from day 2 of my writing (Bart mentions him in chapter 4 of Amulet) but it wasn't until I was writing the third book that I began to explore who exactly he was. And I didn't create the flashback scenes until very late on - when I realised that Ptolemy was in some ways a foreshadowing of Nathaniel.
Jonathan Stroud
Hi Sadia - that's a good question. Um, I don't know... I think the humour has to be (to some extent) your own humour: in other words, you're writing things that you find funny. If you stick to that, then I don't think it's difficult, though you have to be careful to flesh out the character with other, more serious, concerns. Some days I don't feel funny at all, and then I tend to write serious bits. On other days the jokes are closer to the surface and (with Bartimaeus) lots of juicy footnotes come pouring out.
Jonathan Stroud
I don't really believe in ghosts, but I DO get scared by the idea of them - which I guess is why I've written this series!
Jonathan Stroud
It's not a question of bad - more unfinished. I usually do a rough draft (often incomplete) then a finished one, which I intend to be pretty close to the final thing. Then I give it to my editors and once they've commented make a last round of changes. So: three drafts in all.
Jonathan Stroud
No music for me. Like you, I prefer silence. I often chomp on fruit or biscuits. Nuts are good too! I tend to write indoors where I can control the environment. Sometimes I gaze out of the window wistfully - that's good enough.
Jonathan Stroud
I try to read a fair bit of YA, but there's so much out there that it's hard to keep up. I've read enough to know that we're in something of a golden age - there's something good out there for everybody, regardless of your preferences. Some of the movies are good too. I like the Hunger Games films, for instance.
Jonathan Stroud
Good question. I think it varies - different agents adopt subtly different rapiers for their use, depending on their own preferences. Some have larger hand-guards than others; some are marginally heavier, or thicker. I guess something like a foil would be the classic look, though.
Jonathan Stroud
Hello Kristin! Thank you for your message, and thanks for coming to LaGrange! Eoin and I really enjoyed our visit there. I think the US cover for Amulet is very striking, and it's clearly a good cover as it's been kept for more than 10 years. It isn't how I personally see Bart myself, though. I think it's just a little too sinister. But it's very hard to get it right.
Jonathan Stroud
Ha ha! Poor Robin. Who knows, maybe George or Lockwood will let it slip one day. I've got a feeling I may have written a bit about Robin somewhere, but perhaps it was in a draft that I didn't use... I'll have to look back in the archives.
Jonathan Stroud
Hi Jenny - by all means, call your demon hunter Bartimaeus! May he be equally resilient and cunning, and bring you much success! :)
Jonathan Stroud
They're not related, but they ARE certainly similar in character. Taken historically, Asmira is a kind of foreshadowing of Kitty, so when Bart meets Kitty all those centuries later, he's used to strong, formidable young women.
Jonathan Stroud
Sources underwater tend to be nullified - as long as the water is running. But a ship that's run aground could easily be a focus for ghosts and Sources, as relic-women like Flo Bones would attest. So glad you liked Hollow Boy! Sorry about the ending! ;)
Jonathan Stroud
There are certainly plenty of historic accidents featuring forms of transport, and some of these will result in powerful ghosts. You're right, though, that in some cases the iron etc of buses or trains will negate the haunting. It depends whether the iron is still there... People are much more careful about tackling long-distance transportation in Lockwood's world - they don't like being out at night...
Jonathan Stroud
I'm surrounded by strong women of various ages - daughter, sisters, wife, mother... I couldn't imagine it any other way! :) I'm not sure my mum would describe herself as 'badass' but you never know...
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more