1: Which would you rather attend to promote your book, a Romance Con, a Sci-Fi con, or a Mystery Con?

2: An ego surf of your name turned up 3,700 hits. How does it feel to have an international following? Did you expect it for such a "literary" work?

3: You've been compared to Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Monty Python. Have any of these people influenced your writing and sense of the absurd?

4: In your book signings and interactions with your reading public, do you find that you attract academia who have an in depth knowledge of the literature that you satirize?

5: Would you consider having Thursday involved with an American classic? Which book would you consider and why?

6: Coming from film, which movie comes closest to the spirit of your novels?

7: Your novels remind me of fan fiction. Have you ever indulged in fan fiction? What characters would you write about? Do you consider fan fiction a legitimate form of literature?

8: What books are currently cluttering your bedside table?

9: Has anyone ever tried to correct you on any historical or literary fact in your books?









1: Which would you rather attend to promote your book, a Romance Con, a Sci-Fi con, or a Mystery Con?

Actually, being a cross-genre author, all three. Mind you, I've already done one SF con (In Exeter, UK, in March 2003) so would welcome the opportunity to do either romance or mystery - although to be honest mystery probably appeals slightly more.

2: An ego surf of your name turned up 3,700 hits. How does it feel to have an international following? Did you expect it for such a "literary" work?

It's wonderful, of course. When I wrote the book I never thought it would interest anybody - by the time I wrote 'The Eyre Affair' I was writing for myself having given up the hope of being published - this was my fifth (unpublished) book in ten years of scribbling, so getting published in the UK was a big surprise - doubly so for such an enthusiastic response in America - and now 'The Eyre Affair' is to be translated into seven languages - astonishing!

3: You've been compared to Terry Pratchett, Douglas Adams, and Monty Python. Have any of these people influenced your writing and sense of the absurd?

Of the three, most by Monty Python, I think - when the Pythons were strutting their stuff on British TV I was aged ten - a very impressionable age. I already had a pretty absurd sense of humour when Douglas arrived on the scene who was I think 'refreshments' in my late teens. But I haven't read any Pratchett at all, although people tell me we have similar themes running though our books. My sense of the absurd comes from a strange mix of an inquiring mind and a brother with a very odd sense of humour.

4: In your book signings and interactions with your reading public, do you find that you attract academia who have an in depth knowledge of the literature that you satirize?

Yes, but always in a good sense. Academics - at least the ones who come to my talks - understand the fun I am having with what are, to them, very familiar characters. To them it's amusing in-jokes. I try to be as faithful to the characters I am appropriating as much as possible. Contrary to popular belief, academics have a very good sense of humour indeed!

5: would you consider having thursday involved with an american classic? which book would you consider and why?

Yes indeed. My choice of classics generally comes from what I know and what are alive in the mass consciousness; if I used obscure books, the jokes would fall flat. There are many American classics I could use, but I have to try and steer towards those in the public domain and are very familiar to UK readers as well as US ones.

6: Coming from film, which movie comes closest to the spirit of your novels?

The blend of silliness and seriousness that I always try and aim towards are those in films like 'The Man with two brains' and 'This is Spinal Tap', but there are elements of many films in my books.

7: Your novels remind me of fan fiction. Have you ever indulged in fan fiction? What characters would you write about? Do you consider fan fiction a legitimate form of literature?

I've not come across this term before. What is it?

8: What books are currently cluttering your bedside table?

I'm reading the 'Flashman' books by George McDonald Fraser at present, and doing research on the battle of Waterloo for the 4th Thursday Next book.

9: Has anyone ever tried to correct you on any historical or literary fact in your books?

Not really - I think even the staunchest pedants realise I am just having fun - and since my stories take place in a strictly alternative universe, anything can happen - and probably will!

Jasper Fforde, March 2003

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