Gemmell interview

[drosdelnoch]

Righty ho everyone,
I have an interview coming up with DG so if anyone has any questions then please let me know, I'll do my best to get as many in as I can however I cant guarantee to get them all in. Also if you are after a Gemmell Wallpaper I do have one currently for Shield of Thunder and will hopefully get a Drenai one created as well as a Rigante one when I get the time.

Anyway, I leave it to you all, questions will be sent off in about a week so you have that long to get some questions in.

Thanks

Gareth

[dragula_66]

I would like to know what inspired him to write Legend, and how much trouble he had getting a publisher to read and accept it.

thanks

[Mark Robson]

For me, Legend felt like a glorified battle for Minas Tirith. There were many parallels between the settings. How much did Tolkien influence that first book?

People often accuse Gemmell of being formulaic. Does he see his work in this light?

The first two of the Rigante novels tied together nicely, and I felt he could have followed on the story of Bane quite easily. Why the 800 year gap? For me, this made the third book feel like the start of a new series. Was that the intention?

[Allanon]

i would like to know what influences him to write? i.e. when he sits down does he have anything that he keeps as a constant, music etc or does he just start writing. also tell him he's my favourite author, i know that's a bit childish but i think he's great.

[I, Brian]

drosdelnoch, are you planning to post up the interview here?

[drosdelnoch]

If it goes the way Im planning it will be a written interview rather than just q&A's so I will if people would like to see it here. It will however also be going on my own site.

[I, Brian]

Posting here it here could be great.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Lots of questions so feel free to pick & choose to suit your theme

Q1: Does he have any plans to do any further work in other historical settings?
So far we've had:
Greek/Middle East (Macedon series & Troy series)
Roman Britain (Last Sword of Power)
18th C Europe (Rigante "Sword in the Storm" series)
Medieval Britain/Europe (Drenai & earlier Rigante works)

Q2: How important does he consider research when preparing his novels, especially in relation to armour technology & manufacture?

Q3: Does he consider the use of magic in his novels to be merely a useful plot device or does he have a more structured underlying concept with it's own set 'rules & limitations' in mind when he uses it.

Q4: What authors does he admire or inspired him to write - if any?

Q5: Does he have any plans to develop an official website?

Q6: How does he deal with redrafting his work? Has he ever taken out characters & plotlines from some of his novels and regretted it?

Q7: How would you feel about your characters/novels being optioned into other media & would you consider taking an active part in the process? (i.e. animated series like Discworld or TV mini-series like Dune)

Q8: Which book have you taken the most pleasure in/found easiest to write and why?

Q9: What was the last book you read for pleasure?

Q10: How can fans find out when you're out & about doing book signings & the like (I always seem to find out when it's too late! )

[drosdelnoch]

Q5: Does he have any plans to develop an official website?
Ive asked that one before and this was the answer I got :

"There are a number of great sites dealing with my work. I dont have the time to keep a site up to speed, and my work/life motto is that old saw: 'If you cant do it well, dont bloody do it."

[drosdelnoch]

Oh and as to question 10. You'll find out pretty damn quick this time I promise you. When I get the dates, hopefully in the next week or so, I'll post them so that everyone has a chance to see where the signings are. After that its up to you to get a ticket, although please remember that the venues wont get the tickets until a month before and added to that they sold pretty damn quick the last couple of times, so if a venue attracts you go to them, hand over the cash for the ticket, take a receipt and make sure you're one of the first to have a ticket. AS otherwise you could miss out. Its been happening more and more the last couple of years.

[drosdelnoch]

Just to let you all know that there will not be a tour this year due to health reasons. DG is sorry about this as he loves meeting the fans, but these things do take priority.

I'll let you know more as I do.

[Winters_Sorrow]

Oh dear, give DG all our best & I hope he has a speedy recovery to health!

[drosdelnoch]

Ive sent the questions so its a case of waiting to see.