Jared

Jared asked Jonathan Stroud:

I'm a massive fan, and my first novel will be released in May. Your books make me feel unworthy to be a writer. The worlds and characters that you create are so deep and rich. In both Bartimaeus and Lockwood, the settings take on a life of their own. How do you do that? Do you do research? Do you go out for a walk and take notes? Or does it all come straight from your head?Tell us your secrets!

Jonathan Stroud Firstly, congratulations on your forthcoming novel! Well, for me it's a question of slowly building the worlds up as I write. With both Bart and Lockwood I began with a couple of characters and gradually explored outwards, figuring out the world as I went. I try to mix real places and real things with imagined ones, because that helps make it feel more three-dimensional. As I've got older I've become less interested in purely imaginary worlds. I like to take one fantastical element (djinn, ghosts) and add it to an essentially realistic world, and see how things distort...

More Answered Questions

Rachel Jackson

Rachel Jackson asked Jonathan Stroud:

Hello Mr Stroud! I absolutely love your books :D You've created very interesting settings in your books, having a modern yet antique feel to it. In Bartimaeus there is very interesting relationship between the magicians, the commoners and the spirits. Is such kind of a society and government present all over the world or just England in that universe during that time? Please do write more Bartimaeus stories :)

Rose Black

Rose Black asked Jonathan Stroud:

You may get asked things like the a lot but... Are you afraid of ghosts?

Jessica

Jessica asked Jonathan Stroud:

How would social media (facebook, vines, instagram etc.) have impacted on Lockwood & Co.'s reputations? Would it have improved or worsened the Annie Ward situation, and what do you think their online presence might be like? (certainly their reputation would be harder to keep perhaps?)

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Jonathan Stroud

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