Erin asked Deborah Harkness:

Deborah, I am a Pennsylvanian but spent 4 of my teen years living in Oxford,England. I was wondering what inspired you to set A Discovery of Witches primarily in Oxford? Did you spend any length of time there? Was there anything particular about the wonderful city that influenced your story?

Deborah Harkness I lived in Oxford from 1991 to 1994, with a few breaks here and there. It is the most magical place on earth, in my opinion, so of course it was the setting I chose for the first book.

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I seem to have a different favourite character in each book - Matthew in no.1; Diana in no.2; and Gallowglass in no.3 - do you have a favourite character and if so what makes them that extra bit special?

Renee Hickman asked Deborah Harkness:

Like so many of your fans, I'm fascinated by your research and all the hidden historical references (or Easter eggs) you sprinkled throughout the trilogy. Did you write with them in mind or did you add them later?

A Goodreads user asked Deborah Harkness:

How come the Congregation don't get involved with Father Hubbards den? Witches, vampires and daemons all together? It just seems like he shouldn't have been allowed to rise to that sort of power; they should have got involved early on.

All answers from Deborah Harkness…

Deborah Harkness

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Deborah, I am a Pennsylvanian but spent 4 of my teen years living in Oxford,England. I was wondering what inspired you to set A Discovery of Witches primarily in Oxford? Did you spend any length of time there? Was there anything particular about the wonderful city that influenced your story?

More Answered Questions

I seem to have a different favourite character in each book - Matthew in no.1; Diana in no.2; and Gallowglass in no.3 - do you have a favourite character and if so what makes them that extra bit special?

Like so many of your fans, I'm fascinated by your research and all the hidden historical references (or Easter eggs) you sprinkled throughout the trilogy. Did you write with them in mind or did you add them later?

How come the Congregation don't get involved with Father Hubbards den? Witches, vampires and daemons all together? It just seems like he shouldn't have been allowed to rise to that sort of power; they should have got involved early on.

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