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oneshotnewbie · 3 months

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(Tw, eating disorders)

hiyaa, could you do a fic with NCIS (the whole team or just a few characters) and reader who had been struggling with an ed?? i will leave the details to you xx

⚠️Trigger Warning⚠️ This one-shot includes the topic of an eating disorder (anorexia) and the plot is presented. If this triggers you too easily or you just can´t handle the subject, I urge you NOT to read this work. I am NOT embellishing this topic under any circumstance. Read at your own risk.

ᕚ---ᕘ

You sat alone in the darkened kitchen of your apartment. The plate in front of you was empty, the remains of a meager salad that you had tossed around several times. Your gaze was blank as you stared at the plate, as if searching for answers that might be hiding in the dried lettuce leaves.

The last few weeks have been a challenge for you. The relentless cases and high stress levels at NCIS had taken their toll on you. The originally secret battle against the numbers on the scales had long since become an open war that you were waging against yourself.

Your colleagues started to notice your changes. Special Agent Ellie Bishop, your best friend, was one of the first to notice a certain distance in your eyes while you were working on a case. Gibbs, who could read his team's moods like no other, had also picked up on the subtle clues- the tired eyes, the emaciated appearance, and the color that had drained from your face.

After a discussion about the latest case and your lack of sympathy, Ellie and he exchanged worried glances before silently agreeing that it was time to talk to you. Together they decided to bring in Jack Sloane, the team's experienced psychologist and agent.

Just a few hours later, after gathering informally, Gibbs, Ellie, and Jack found themselves in her office. The tension in the air was palpable as they patiently waited for you to walk in the door unsuspectingly. “Sit down, Y/n.” The older man spoke calmly, pointing to the couch opposite.

You hesitated with a questioning and slightly confused look before sitting down. The gazes of your colleagues literally pierced you and made you nervous.

"We're worried about you, sweetheart," Ellie began gently, her arms wrapped around her body as her lower back dug into the blonde's desk. "You seem so different lately and we want to understand what's going on."

Jack eventually continued, bringing out her expertise, enhancing the expression of her words by readjusting her glasses. "There's no reason to walk alone in the dark."

It was hard to miss the tension on your face as you tried to control her emotions. Gibbs looked at you seriously, a hint of concern and sensitivity shining in his eyes. "Y/n, we are your team. If you have problems, you don't have to fight it alone. Talk to us."

"It's nothing. I'm fine." You spoke after listening to your colleagues' words, literally feeling the pressure inside you as a lump formed in your throat. You hesitated for a moment before standing up and abruptly leaving the room without saying another word. The look on your face told the three of them a mix of anger and shame as they realized there was a deeper reason for your change.

The door closed behind you with a muffled bang and Gibbs sighed heavily, keeping his eyes on the closed door. "Damn," he muttered. "She won't let anyone talk to her."

Ellie cast a worried glance in the direction you had just been sitting and furrowed her brow in frustration. "We can't just let her go through this alone. She needs help."

Jack Sloane nodded in agreement, her emotions contained as she considered what to do next with you. "I agree, but she also has to be willing to accept help. We can't force her."

In the next few days the atmosphere in the team remained tense. You tried to appear as normal as possible, but the tension between you, Ellie, and Gibbs was palpable. The usual jokes with Dinozzo, the shared breaks with Ellie and the feeling of togetherness with Gibbs seemed to have faded into the background.

Until the senior agent's team received an urgent mission that required your full attention and teamwork. A suspicious package with a bomb inside appeared in a public building. When you arrived on site, the situation quickly became aggravated by memories of 9/11. The building was evacuated and the team took control of the entire situation.

This effort that brought you back onto the field was actually intended to provide distraction and focus for you. However, the tensions in the team were obvious. You avoided all eye contact with your colleagues, the images of the failed conversation echoing in your head, and the pressure you were trying to hide weighed heavily on you.

While you were concentrating on your tasks, you suddenly felt a wave of dizziness. Your heart was pounding fast, the world around you was spinning, and your legs suddenly felt like they were made of rubber. Your vision blurred. Instinctively you reached for the closest thing possible to hold on to, which at that exact moment was Ellie, but your knees gave way and you sank to the ground next to her. The colors blurred before your eyes and you lost consciousness.

Ellie noticed the suddenly tight grip on her forearm. Gibbs, who was standing right behind you, reacted quickly and caught you before your head hit the paving stone. “Y/n!” He called as he gently laid you on the ground and Ellie called emergency services while Dinozzo and McGee continued to focus on the case. You were pale and breathing shallowly, the older agent trying to wake you up while Ellie looked for signs of acute medical distress and checked your pulse, all while talking to the emergency dispatcher.

Gibbs watched worriedly as you slowly came to. When your eyes opened, they showed a mix of embarrassment and weakness. "What happened?" You mumbled, still dazed.

"We'll sort that out later," he replied calmly, brushing some stray strands of hair that had gotten lost in it out of your face. "Right now we need to make sure you get medical attention."

Even as the paramedics arrived and took care of you, the two exchanged a meaningful look. The events of the last few minutes had exposed a reality that they could no longer ignore and it became clear to everyone that this was not just about the case and the hot summer days that drove everyone into a corner - this was about the well-being of an agent who not only fought against external threats in everyday life, but also against her own demons.

ᕚ---ᕘ

In the hospital room, surrounded by dim lights and the hum of medical equipment, you sat up straight in bed. Gibbs and Ellie had alerted Jack to come to the hospital, where all three of them gathered around you, each of them with a serious but caring look.

"Y/n, it's time we talk about this," Jack began in a soft voice, sitting on the edge of the bed, her hand tentatively running over your still-shaky forearm, skillfully ignoring the intravenous access for medication. "We really care about you. This fainting is a symptom of something bigger. You need to tell us what's going on so we can help you."

You looked down, fingers folding nervously in your lap. The walls you had so stubbornly built seemed to be crumbling. Gibbs took a step closer to you. His eyes met yours, intense and fatherly at the same time. "You're part of my team, y/n. If you're having trouble, I'm here for you."

Ellie also wanted to join in the conversation, adding something that completely grounded your walls. "We are not only colleagues, but also friends and family. You can trust us. We will help you." You took a deep breath and nodded, a lone, slow tear rolling down your cheeks. "It's not easy for me to talk about it. It feels like I'm losing control."

Gibbs placed a protective hand on your shoulder, letting you know that it was okay to let them in and accept their help. "Sometimes it's okay to let go of control. You are not alone and together we will help you get back on your feet."

"I fell into something that I didn't think I would ever fall into again. An eating disorder that I actually left behind a long time ago," you began to say, many more tears following. Ellie had immediately moved to your side, wrapping you in a big hug to help you tell them everything they needed to know.

The following weeks were characterized by intensive discussions with Jack, supported by professional help from another psychologist outside of working hours. The entire team was there to support you every step of the way, enveloping you in care as they ate with you and brought you small snacks.

Gibbs, who was otherwise known for his strictness, became a protective father figure who lost his strictness on you when it wasn't work related. He constantly reminded you that there was no shame in showing weakness and that you didn't have to fight alone if you suffered a setback for the day.

The team became a supportive unit that not only solved crimes but also looked after each other. Through your courage to defy and confront your own demons, the connection between you all became significantly stronger. Everyone in the family had learned that true strength often came from accepting help and going through the darkness together, rather than isolating yourself and taking the rocky road alone.

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coppertophomegurl · 21 days

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James Aubrey and Ellie Bishop ate one (1) meal together at a local diner. 9 dead and 45 injured.

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ncis-imagines-blog · 1 year

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#ncis x reader #ncis imagines #ncis fandom #ncis ellie bishop #ellie bishop imagine #ellie bishop x reader

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stanathanxoox · 1 year

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I'm So Happy

gif is mine

Thank you to @creativepromptsforwriting for these prompts; Twenty-Fourth Day of Gift-Giving: Twenty-Four Touches. There will be more of these fics to come as they are a work in progress but I hope you like what I have so far

Stanathanxoox

A hand in the other’s hair, not quite grabbing it – Ellie Bishop x reader

As you knelt over the basin, losing the contents of your stomach your big sister loosely holding your hair out of your face, you groan.

“I hate being sick” you whisper and your sister shoots you a sympathetic look, before a strange look crosses over her face and she drops your hair before she begins to riffle through her handbag before she pulls out a pregnancy test and holds it out in front of you. You raise an eyebrow at her and she says

“You’ve been throwing up for the last three days Y/N, your in a committed relationship with Darren I think its safe to say that this is probably the cause for your vomiting”. You think it through before you nod your head, of course your big sister was right, she usually was. You take the pregnancy test from her and walk into one of the stalls in the public bathroom before you make your way back out into the bathroom.

“What am I going to do if I am?” you whisper looking down at the pregnancy test before looking up at your sister with big pleading eyes

“You will raise an amazing little human, with mum and dad, and me by your side Y/N and I’m pretty sure that Darren will be with you the whole way through too” she says and you nod your head slowly. You could just imagine your partner as a father to a little girl or boy, he would be an amazing father, and as you look back down at the pregnancy test you realise that your going to get to see that coming true in the not to distant future.

“I’m pregnant” you whisper as you turn the test around to show your sister who squeals in delight as she throws her arms around you and holds you close.

“I am so damn happy” she says and you smile

“I am too, thank you for being with me Emily” you say and she smiles

“Of course Y/N” she says before she gives your hand a gentle squeeze and the two of you look back down at the pregnancy test again.

Tag List: @tiva-jenry-caskett-rizzles-densi, @jimmybpride, @dressed-just-like-z1ggy, @nikkiwierden, @samchelforever007, @kirkspockbones, @xoncisxncislaxncisnolaox, @lasalle-pride-sebastian-love, @haliannej, @brooklyn-99-amyxjake, @mizzezm, @genius2050, @twilight-twihard, @cullencoven2019, @wxlfgirlx, @luciferxchloeislove, @drethanramsey-ismybabe, @sawyer-oakley-is-mighty-fine, @loverofoneshots, @aelin-thefirebreathingbitchqueen

Tag List for NCIS/NCIS NOLA: @powerpuffbubbles, @diaryofafan17, @thebeckyjolene

Tag List for NCIS: @manicmarsupial

#ncis #ncis fic #ncis imagine #ncis reader insert #ncis x reader #ellie bishop #ellie bishop imagine #ellie bishop x reader

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bethsvrse · 4 days

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LESBIAN VISIBILITY WEEK

(some of my favourite wlw fanfics)

late night confession - wanda maximoff by @lives-in-midgard

puppy love - robin buckley by @elliesmainhoe

glue - ellie williams by @whore-era

new in town - lydia martin by @heliads

make you mind this season - kate bishop by @hard-core-super-star

lady oswald - clara oswald by @lanawinterscigarettes

if I could fly - clara oswald by @wlw-imagines

I want you (bless my soul) - river song by @penguinwithitsarseonfire

trick or treat - maddy perez by @suzar

props to all these writers, should definitely check them out :3

#bethsvrse #fanfic recommendation #wanda maximoff x reader #robin buckley x reader #ellie williams x reader #lydia martin x reader #kate bishop x reader #clara oswald x reader #river song x reader #maddy perez x reader #wlw post #wlw #fanfic #lesbian visibility week #women loving women #fanfic rec #some of them are gn!reader but there still amazing lol

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oldshrewsburyian · 1 year

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As much as I adore your (highly) interesting takes on medievalism and how it differs from what we actually know (or hypothesize) about the medieval period, I don't think I've ever asked: are there any books set in either the real middle ages or some fantasy approximation of the period that you WOULD recommend? They don't have to be "perfect" representations, obviously, but it would be nice to learn about any books that side-step the usual potholes. Thank you!

Hi, friend! A of all, thank you; B of all, there are and I would. From the following list it will become apparent that my criteria are idiosyncratic. Really, I think, the most important thing for my own enjoyment -- for any historical fiction, but especially for that set in the place/time I know best -- is that the work and its author are exploring the period as a way of opening up a conversation between past and present, rather than looking down on the past from the vantage point of the contemporary. This sententious prolegomenon concluded:

The Book Smuggler, Omaima Al-Khamis (eleventh-century Islamicate world, about knowledge and wisdom and religious intolerance)

Morality Play, Barry Unsworth (fourteenth-century England, about justice and law and vocation and community)

The Name of the Rose, Umberto Eco (doesn't need my introduction, hilarious and deeply poignant meta-meditation on the genre of the detective story, also on theological debates and the love of one's neighbor and the nature of fear)

Sword at Sunset, Rosemary Sutcliff (fifth-century post-Roman Britain, has some clichés, also some magic, but is so richly imagined and full of people I love. Also good dogs.)

Cadfael Chronicles, Ellis Peters (twelfth-century England; I was wondering why I love these so much and I think a lot of it comes back to how much Ellis Peters loved the particular place she lived/set the books in, and watching the changing of the seasons there, so that that close observation of time -- very medieval! -- is also central. Inequality isn't made invisible or grotesque here, either, and it's often one or the other in Fictional Medieval Europe.)

Isaac of Girona mysteries, Caroline Roe (C14 Spain, also whodunits, but I cannot resist including this charming series about a blind Jewish doctor and his beloved wife and his daughters and the orphan he adopts and his chess-playing buddy the bishop and and and....! It's great.)

The History of the Siege of Lisbon, José Saramago (C12/C20 Portugal, called "metafiction about the instability of history and the reality assumed by fiction" by Kirkus Reviews and... yeah!)

She Who Became The Sun, Shelley Parker-Chan (C15 Ming China, with ghosts, definitely fantasy rather than regular historical fiction, and on the cusp of early modernity, also so so interesting)

The Apothecary's Shop, Roberto Tiraboschi (C12 Venice, deeply weird -- affectionate -- and drawing on Calvino and gialli as well as medieval history; some inaccuracies about women and medicine but I still found it compelling and thought-provoking)

#historical fiction #fun with medievalism #book recommendations #asks and answers

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thisiswhereikeepdcthings · 1 year

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To clarify: This is not a case of both universes existing simultaneously. This is an inexplicably-dropped-into-an-entirely-different-universe crossover.

This is not necessarily about which is your favorite character out of these (although it could be. Who am I to tell you what to do here). This is about what would be the most chaotic, the most cursed, the most barely-justifiable plot-wise. The worst, if you will.

And, since there are far more than ten characters I can imagine dumping into the world of Batman and the Justice League with no valid reasoning, there will be more.

The post I made so I can actually add links as a I go because I can’t edit polls

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sghq-gossip-blog · 1 year

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most likely to vanish without a word and never return from each family?

Here's my best guesses for most families:

Shepherds - Ellis is really the obvious answer here. I don't think Bailey would have it in him, and she just seems very much done with it all sometimes.

Avery - Mia's the only choice, but it'd make sense still. Poor thing always looks so stressed out.

Torres-Robbins - Pretty sure Sofia'd do it if she could, but I can't imagine it would be easy with 30 family members around all of the time.

Sloan - Anna, that girl always looks like she's so on edge. She'd have it in her to snap and vanish.

Shepherd - Charlotte? But, like, not on purpose. She'd do it on accident, and it would be a whole thing.

Karev - Audrey, only because of the fact that it would be so dramatic and shocking given that she's so family-oriented.

Deluca-Bishop - Carlin, because I'd also be pissed if my mom banged someone that I also banged.. which wouldn't have been a problem if fidelity was a thing.

Bailey/Warren - Jameson feels like a mean answer, because of recent events, but fingers crossed he doesn't leave the kid.. again?

mentioned: @ellisheps @dbshepherd @majesticmia @sofxrst @annabellesloan @charlotteshep @audreykarev @carlindb @jamesonwarren

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prue84 · 1 year

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Addendum to “Star Trek/NCIS: the crew manifest”

Addendum to Fandoms in Trek AUs: NCIS. Annotations that had to be removed from the main post since it already was so long.

About the positions and assignments To assign position I tried to stay as closer to their roles in the tv show as I could. Unless a more specific one was available for the specific character, NCIS / FBI agents were made part of security, doctors and related to medical and so on. If not listed below, the choice was self-explanatory and was redundant. - Leon Off all the three directors NCIS has during the first 13th Seasons, Leon is the one who sat on the chair the longer and, consequently, the one who deserved the "boss" role more. He was also the one who couldn't be assigned any other role if assigned to the crew because of this reason. - DiNozzo He's been Gibbs's second since... well, ever, so the role of First Officer was mandatory. Besides, Gibbs considers him his second: there was no way I could make anyone else Gibbs's first officer. You cannot give communications to someone else if Tony is in the mix: the guy is the master of talking. So, although he speaks only two languages (versus Ziva, for example), he cannot be anything else than the Communicator Officer. I had been tempted to remove this role, to give it to Nikki, but then... well, Memory Alpha states that in the 23rd century first officers "served as a department head first and the executive officer second": I can't imagine Tony spending his on-duty hours standing like an idiot because there's no first officer's station on a Constitution. - Kate Todd Given that, previously her NCIS job, she was assigned to the security of the Air Force One and the US President himself, who's better than her to be a Security Chief? Also, it was unclear which role in the hierarchy of the team she had - as far as I understood, she and Tony were at the same level, since there was no mention of "seniority" nor Gibbs treated her or Tony as one superior to the other - so I gave her the role of third officer to partially preserve that. - Abby Abby could fill many shoes. She's NCIS weapons expert, but her main specialty is science, so Chief Science Officer she is. - Ziva Ziva is... Ziva. She fits everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Languages, weapons, combat: everything a red shirt could do, she can do - and better than others. Well, besides driving, at least. Back in 2016 she was in the hold because I didn't know which role give her until I found it fitting to be the second to Kate (whom she replaced in the series). But then I had the idea of revamp the whole edit and she initially ninja-kicked Tony out of his Chief Communication Officer chair on the bridge. But then eventually was moved to helm: she's a woman of action, I couldn't see her sitting at a station picking up frequencies all day, she would probably catch an allergy or die of boredom. Appreciate the decency I had to put her at the nav and not the helm station, leaving that to Borin. Kidding. I couldn't resist it actually. - Jenny Shepard Poor Jenny. I wanted her as Admiral, but then where I could place Vance? With the Liaison Officer (aka, the boss) role already filled, I didn't know where to place her. In the old edit she was given the helmsman (quoting «guides everyone and this is the best I could find for her»), but now I made her the second to Morrow, and second in charge of the functioning of the ship which is likely the closest to a NCIS Director you could get, when the agency takes the form of a starship. Also, second officer to partially give her back some authority (I couldn't make her First Officer in place of Tony, clearly). To at least reflect that she's been in a position of power, I elected her as first helm. - Ellie Bishop We've been shown that she's best at tactical plans, logic and everything between and I wanted her on the bridge. I thought that the standing, additional tactical officer position - that standing station manned by a black actor in red shirt seen in the movies (see Froman) - was fitting. - Fornell What an FBI guy could do, on a starship? Security officer. Sure, but what if you already have a better choice for a Security Chief and their Deputy? Initially I assigned him the armory, but when I revisited the edit came Zoe, so... - Delilah She's "just" an analyst but, in a show where most of the characters carry a gun and go on the field catching criminals, an analyst is as closer to a "computer geek" as they can go. However, the role of mainframe conduit was left open and I didn't really want to include yet another character, so Deliah, you've got promoted on the bridge! - James Palmer and Gerald Since he's a Medical Assistant to Ducky, I decided to make Palmer the Head Nurse instead of Doctor. Gerald, as he had less time to professionally grow, is a step lower as Nurse. - Morrow As he's the first NCIS director we're shown (and likely the one who reformed it from NIS), I thought he had to be assigned the closer role to the ship itself. - Borin Notes from the old edit: «Borin's a woman of action, a less grumpy Gibbs. Being the head of the Coast Guard Investigative Service and specialist about ships, I thought fitting for her to be the Chief Engineer.» I still maintain that it was a perfect assignment, but now that she's been replaced by Morrow I couldn't demote her to engineer. Now all the team leaders are either helm or nav (see below). - Hollis She's army and unity commander: she deserved to be the head department, but I couldn't demote Kate. Sorry Hollis! Still, I made sure to reflect that Kate is the brain, and she doesn't get much on the field - that's Hollis's job. - Cassidy and EJ As team leaders, I put them at the helm/nav stations. - Zoe As agent for the "Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)", she was the only one to replace my initial idea for the Weapons specialist on the crew, Fornell. - Doctor Ryan We don't need PsyOps on a Starfleet Ship, Samantha! - Nikki She's fluent in languages and she monitors communications. Duh. - Cranston + Wolf She basically begged for this position - or this position for her. Same for Dr. Wolf. - Grady I gave her the transporter chief position because of her character's introduction as polygraph specialist. - Doctor Taft Despite him being a "field doctor", which initially made me include him as senior doctor (Doctor M'Benga's position), I picked doctor Jordan so he was downgraded. - Dorney He's a probatory agent and he complains when he gets the evidence locker. I created the position for him when I replaced him as Yeoman. - Carol Well, we know Abby hates it when there's people in her lab. But she accepted Carol when time saw them working together and I wanted to include Carol, so... - Lee It's the closer "starship position" I could find to an agent canon-assigned to the legal department. - Jordan I decided to make her Ducky's second because she's a medical examiner like him and, when he was hurt, Ducky suggested to ask her to temporary replace him on a case (we don't see the scene, it's just Ducky saying it). - Stan I know he deserves more than "Captain's yeoman" but... was a very late, late addition to the crew, so before he didn't even made an appearance? Also, he laments that he was like an errandboy during his times with Gibbs. And Gibbs would love to have a yeoman as Stan. - Hart Her was the character I regretted more to not add but I really had no idea how to fit her on a starship. Then the final version of the revisited edit was ready, and I was missing a character. Of all the minor characters left out, she was the most blaring. But you don't need an attorney (or even a JAG officer) on a starship. Considering she spends most of her presence on the show reminding Gibbs of rules, I guessed she could be some kind of assistant to keep the very undiplomat Gibbs on check. About the ranks While assigning ranks I tried to maintain some kind of reference to the "power hierarchy" of the tv show. For this reason, Jenny Shepard and Fornell are the only ones given a commander rank besides Di Nozzo (who gets the rank only because of his First Officer position). Morrow manages a captain because there's a canon precedent of a captain holding the chief engineer position (Scotty in Search for Spock), but I tried to compensate for Jenny by giving her the second officer role. Lieutenant commander is for characters who lead a team/squad leader (Borin, Barrett, Cassidy) or other characters who weren't part of NCIS who held a high rank within their jobs (Doctor Ryan, Dr. Taft); Kate was given it for the position she was assigned to (chief security) but also because, during her time at NCIS, she was equal to Tony but I didn't/could give her a commander, while Ducky gets it despite not being a federal agent because... well, it's Ducky and he's also the CMO. Mann, as Army Lieutenant Colonel, should be a commander (which is the Navy equivalent), but I decided that having her with the same rank of Jenny and higher than her direct superior Kate would make little sense. Bishop, as the last acquisition of the squad, is a lieutenant junior grade, while Dorneget is a step lower as ensign. Jeanne, Doctor Cranston, Wolf and Hampton, while not related to NCIS, are respectively an ensign and lieutenants because I felt that, as doctors, they would be better fitting as commissioned officers (Jeanne is a rank lower because at the start her seniority is unclear and she's preparing to give an exam); Carol, on the other side, is an external and I gave her a chief petty officer to reflect that. I initially wanted to make Palmer, who isn't a federal agent, a non-commissioned officer, but I wasn't sure a CPO could be a head nurse so I made him ensign, but then changed my mind again, and he's now Master CPO - let's say he got promoted after a probationary time under Doctor Mallard. Gerald, his predecessor, is still stuck to chief petty officer. Rest were given the "average" lieutenant to reflect their Agent status. Hart is not part of Starfleet so she doesn't have any rank.

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dwjfansitearchive · 2 years

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QUESTIONS FOR DIANA, March-July 2001, part 1

These are Diana's answers to some of the questions which were asked between March and late July 2001. The main topics on this page are: writing; fanfiction; Fire and Hemlock; Howl's Moving Castle; Harry Potter; Dark Lord of Derkholm, and The Tough Guide.

On Writing

From Elly

I wanted to say thank you. Your books fitted right in with my imagination and I'm glad because they gave me other worlds to go to when this one didn't start out as very nice. They weren't the only things but your books helped and I'm still here! I hope you don't mind that I wrote this. Aside from reading I guess it is inevitable that I also love writing, I can't not do it and I would like to share it. I'll only know if people want to share it too if I try to get it out there so I was wondering what your advice on getting an agent would be? It seems the best way would be personal recommendation but I don't know any authors. Anyway thanks again for the books, I'm glad you find such pleasure in what you do. Thankyou in advance for any advice and I hope I haven't taken up too much of your time.

Other Comments

I'm 21 now just finished my degree and off to see the world!

Diana's Reply

I'm glad you're still here and off to see the world, and if I had anything to do with this it makes me gladder still. About agents, do you write for adults, or children, or both? My agent only really handles children's writing, but if you let me know what you write, I could ask her to recommend you someone.

From Bob

How do you start writing? Do you just sit down and write, or do you make a lot of webs, character outlines, and drafts first?

Other Comments

Age: 11 Gender:F Ambition: to become a writer

Diana's Reply

Generally I just sit down and write, with a sketchy outline in my mind - which outline seldom survives as soon as the book gets going. Most of the preparation takes place in my head and I very seldom commit plans to paper. But there are exceptions. For instance, long before I wrote FIRE AND HEMLOCK - like six years - I was writing shorter and longer pieces that didn't seem to add up, except that I knew they would in the end. Most of these ended up as Polly's Tan Coul inventions. Three or four other books have started like this. It seems to depend on the book.

From Bonnie

What is the best way to start a book? Do you start with a conversation or a description. I usually start with a description but I find that when I do that I get into a dead end later on, having nowhere to go from there. Also, when I've read books by other people, I tend to not notice the descriptions, but just take it in. But, when I write descriptions they go very flowery and you lose interest. How can I stop this from happening?

Diana's Reply

The best way to start a book is the way you want to do it. Start with the bit that grabs you. But descriptions do make for a slow start. I suggest you write your description, if that is the way you want to start, and then go back over it and reduce it to two sentences at the most. There is a lot of this going back to it in writing. You never get away with writing a thing just once. And remember that people, and what they think and do, are the things that move a story along. Concentrate on your people.

From B Bishop

Dear Diana, well, after the Chrestomanci series I did go on to read your other books and I love them all! So whether or not you write another Chrestomanci book makes no difference to me anymore just keep writing! I especially liked Dogsbody, Howl's Moving Castle, Drowned Ammett. I am now down to the last two or so books you've written and am already in dread of the Wynne Jones withdrawal pains. You're the best! If you can stand a trivial question I'd like to know where you write. If it's a study what does it look like and what kind of things are in it. Thanks!

Diana's Reply

I start writing in the most comfortable chair I can find in the sitting room, in everybody's way. For the second draft I move to my study, which is very small and crowded with: one cat, trying to walk on my keyboard, about sixty pictures, hundreds of books, stacks of paper there's nowhere to put, two chairs, in hopes the cat will sit in the other one (she does in the end), and dozens of dragon-things because I love dragons. Oh, and the red stool I balance my coffee on. I have a red carpet, a red window-blind, a red cuboard, a red filing cabinet and a blue table.

From Joni Harbottle

Greetings, Ms. Jones! I am an advanced Creative Writer at an Arts School in Florida (U.S.A); A very good writer I am, But, I have a problem with certain story formats. I can Write in a narrative point of view, but never at an outside angle like you do. If you would be so kind as to give me some pointers and rules for how to write like this, I would be very honored to recieve you tips, for you are an outstanding, exellent writer and author! Lets keep this between us- personally, I think you are much better than J.K.Rowling. After all, her plot lines are so predictable; while your's are much more "one-of-a-kind" and interesting! Please send me a reply of some sort and once again, I'd be honored! Thank you so much for taking the time to read this! Hope to hear from you soon, Your Loyal fan, Joni Harbottle- 13/F/FL

Other Comments

I am thirteen years of age. I Live in Florida, It is the peninsula state at the eastern corner of North America! I have read many of your books and I am a big fan!

Diana's Reply

I see and sympathise with your problem. I suspect you may be one of those writers who do brilliantly best when telling the story from INSIDE a character, and you really wouldn't want to change that (everyone has their own way of doing it and you really oughtn't to change the way you ARE). It puts you in there with Dostoevsky, the Brontes and other great writers. But I see you'd also want to learn all the skills there are. I can tell you that I learnt to write at an outside angle by reading and rereading Jane Austen - and from Dickens, too, a bit. I'd recommend you to study Austen. It is a skill one can only learn, not be taught.

From Hannah

Dear Diana I have been a fan of yours for about a year or so now, after I picked up Charmed Life by chance in a bookshop. I would just like to say that all your books are FANTASTIC and I really really love them. I've read almost all of them and my favourite is probably Fire and Hemlock because Tom is so likeable and, well, just plain nice. I think your books are WAY better than Harry Potter. Anyway, is Power of Three published in Harper Collins now because I haven't seen it anywhere. Also, could you give me some advice (pretty please) on writing fantasy, because my LIFELONG DREAM is to get published. Sorry this question is so long, and _please_ could you write some more books soon???

Other Comments

I am 13 years old, a sulky teenager whose life has been CHANGED by DWJ's books from wandering round in bookshops looking for decent fantasy books to an ardent collecter of her stuff.

Diana's Reply

Yes, POWER OF THREE is going to be republished later this year. I have done the proofs and have been discussing the illustrations, so I know it is really on the way. Writing fantasy - well, first don't ever even try to write something you are not violently interested in, and then start as near to the interesting part as you can. It helps if you can visualise (and hear and smell and touch in your mind) the most peculiar scene in your story, first, before you start writing; and then consider it and try to follow logically the reasons for its happening like that. The logic will lead you to the fantasy. This will be in places you never expected.

From Erica

Do you believe in describing the character's physical appearance right away or letting the story clues come together to form it's own mental image?

Other Comments

I am 12 years old and truly hope to become an author when I "grow up" I would really appreciate an answer to my question, because I am currently writing a short story. An English teacher told me that I shouldn't describe the physical characteristics right away and not out right. I'm not so sure I agree with her. I need some advice.

Diana's Reply

The fact is, everyone has their own way of writing, which they're happiest with. If you are happy describing, then do it. But I will say this on your teacher's behalf: descriptions tend to pass your reader by so that they don't remember them. Usually the best way to fix a person's appearance in your reader's mind is to SEE (and hear and even smell) the person to yourself so clearly that it will all come over to your reader without you having to decribe any of it. But PDJames, the detective story writer, evidently agrees with you. She likes to describe everyone in detail when they first appear - and she is, after all, a good and a famous writer. Perhaps you should mention this to your teacher.

From Jack Fotheringham

I was wondering how you first got into writing and if you could scan your signature and email it to me?

Other Comments

I a a ten year old and for christmas 2000 I got Fire and Hemlock and ever since i read it I have been hooked on your books. My friends think I am mad reading all these old books But they havent read any of your books From Jack

Diana's Reply

I'm sorry, I don't have a scanner, so I can't send you a signature. It was very difficult to get into writing. I was two years younger than you when I realised that was what I wanted to do, but I had to wait another 30 years until I had a book published.

From Karen Schwab

How on earth do you "do" your characters? There's something about many of your books that grips me in the first paragraph, and did the first time I picked up one of your books (Magicians of Caprona, about 20 years ago when I was 15). It seems to have to do with the characters and how their concerns are very ordinary. In other fantasy books a character only cares about Right and Truth and Justice but your characters seem capable of arguing about who gets the last brownie. What's your explanation or perspective on that? Thanks.

Diana's Reply

Well, I do like my characters to behave as ordinary people would - to the extent that I usually put in an actual, real person just to keep the rest honest - and as you point out, most people spend very little (if any) of their time thinking about Right and Truth and Justice (or only if their teacher seems to have been picking on them). And life for the most part is a mass of small ordinary acts, which, if you are lucky, does add up to something greater.

From Emily Manley

Hi Diana! I just want to say that I absolutly love all your books that I have read! I especialy love the chrestomanci series and would like to know if you are going to write any more? Oh I am writing a book too and you are the one who inspired me to, but it seems to be taking me a long time to finish the first chapter. How long did it take you to finish your book? Thanks a lot!!!!!!

Other Comments

I am 12 years old. love reading. Love all of your books! I go to Parrs wood high school in manchester and am in year 8. I love English but think that we should be able to do more work on books eg..reading in class and writing more stories!!!!!

Diana's Reply

The first book I ever finished writing was when I was about your age and it took most of a year. People at your stage of life never get enough time. These days I usually do a book in four to six months - but this is only usually. Some books took up to ten years. And I can't promise another Chrestomanci book, because I don't work by planning. I have to wait for a book to come up and hit me. If that one turns out to be a Chrestomanci book, then a lot of people will be happy, me included.

From Sarah R. Cattell

Ms.Jones, My question is how long does it nomally take you to write a book once you have gotten the idea and put pen to paper?

Other Comments

I absolutally love your Chrestomanci books. Granted I am only just about done the first volume, I have hardly been able to put down the book so I can get back to work, and to what else I need to do. I am 19 years old and work at Wal-Mart in Prince Frederick, Marlyland.

Diana's Reply

You asked a difficult question there. Sometimes a book will spring into my head in the middle of one afternoon and I will be writing away at it for the next six months, without any previous preparation at all. CHARMED LIFE was like this. But other books have a long, hard passage and can take up to ten years of thinking and refiguring. The odd thing is that no one knows which kind is which unless I tell them.

From Richard Starfield

Do you think that anyone can become an author if they really want to, or does it require a special talent you have to be born with (like magic in your books)?

Other Comments

I'm sixteen, and several times I've tried to start writing a book during a long holiday, but the plot often turns where I'm not expecting and then everything gets muddled... I have really enjoyed all of your books which I have read so far. The first one I read was The Lives of Christopher Chant, and I love the idea that somewhere there might be universes with magic in them... I've just read Power of Three - the next one I want to read is Deep Secret but I don't know if I'll be able to get it. I read a question on this page about time travel - my theory is that it may have occured/will occur/be occuring because if we discovered it now, would we rush off to medievil times and attempt to explain it to them? I think not - we'd probably say "leave them alone - they were happy the way they were" and anybody attempting to prove otherwise might "vanish"... In the Dalemark Quartet, does Drowned Ammet occur at a similar time to Cart and Cwidder? And is Tanaqui really Cennoreth? It seems to be hinted at throughout the book but its never said directly, although The Weaver does call Mage Mallard 'Duck' at some point, doesn't she? I think Hexwood is one of the best books I've ever read. Please keep writing, and thanks so much for answering the questions of the populace. Richard.

Diana's Reply

Anyone can be an author, of course, but it takes determination, because you have to teach yourself how to do it. Nobody else can really do it for you. It took me ten years, but I am slow to learn. I've just heard that DEEP SECRET is out of print in the British edition. get a bookshop to order you an American paperback. Yes, I agree. Time travel/crossworld travel may well be happening to us now, but they are not letting us know. There are quite a number of good sf books about this - nice one by Robert Silverberg for starters. And several by Andre Norton. DROWNED AMMET and CART AND CWIDDER overlap. CART AND CWIDDER happens in the early summer - the same gale is mentioned in each - but DROWNED AMMET starts years earlier and goes on into the autumn following the closing of Flennpass. Tanaqui is indeed Cennoreth.

Fanfiction

From Michela Ecks

Hello, My name is Michela Ecks. I am working on a paper for an english class at Northern Illinois University on fan fiction and copyright. For this paper I was hoping I could have some information from one of my favorite authors whom there is little to know information on this topic on the net. I was also hoping that I could have permission to post that information to my web site at http://writersu.s5.com/ and in particular to the page at http://writersu.s5.com/law/policy.html though I only really need the information for my paper. At any rate, if you have the time, I would be very happy if you could answer the following questions pertaining to fan fiction and copyright in regards to your own work for me: 1. Do you have a set policy regarding fan fiction derived from your stories? 2. If you have such a policy, what is it and why did you implement it? 3. If you have such a policy, is this a policy that you created yourself or was it created at an agent or lawyer's behest? (Which is the case with Katherine Kurtz, and Mercedes Lackey...) 4. If you allow fan fiction derived from your work, why? (Terry Pratchett was quoted some where as saying that it creates good will among fans. J.K. Rowlings said somewhere she found it flattering.) 5. What are you general feelings on fan fiction? Do these feelings differ when it is fan fiction based say on books versus television? Thank you for taking the time to read this note :o) Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Diana's Reply

My attitude to all information is that, once it is out in the public domain, then it is there for anyone to use. By all means post what information you want, where you want, but DO make sure it's accurate. Chinese Whispers sort of things can happen so easily. In answer to your other questions: 1. If I objected to fan fiction (or any other kind) derived from my stories, I'd be going mad by now. For instance, Neil Gaiman tells me - as if I needed telling - that he derived AMERICAN GODS from my EIGHT DAYS OF LUKE. I was pretty pleased. 2. I just say 'Feel free'. it would happen even if i didn't. 3. Heavens! Do some people use lawyers for this? The creeps get in everywhere. 4. Terry Pratchett, as always, speaks sound sense. 5. My opinion varies with the quality of what is written. Some is OUCH!!! Some is 'I wish I had thought of that!'

From Anna Beyer

I was wondering if you mind others writing fanfiction on your books and posting them online (at a place such as fanfiction.net). Most writer whose books are the center of fanfic there dont mind, but some sections have been deleted recently at the request of the author. Also, I was wondering exactlly how big an event must be to split a world. Does it need to be a war or something on that scale, or do small things such as whether or not to press the snooze button create more worlds. I ask because I wonder how it can be decided if events are large enough to create a split. In Chrestomanci's world, are females treated as equals of males, or are they stuck in the dark ages in that sense?? Are females just as likely to become powerfully magical as males, or is that rather rare? :) I hope i havent bored you have to death with my questions. I think your a marvelous writer, and I can't wait till your next book comes out!!!

Other Comments

I am 13 and I live in a small town in the mountains of North Carolina, in the US. I can daydream new stories for days on end just by reading a chapter of one of your stories. No other writer has this efect on me, and I hope you keep writing for many years to come.

Diana's Reply

I have no objection at all to people writing and posting fanfiction based on my books. Once a book is published, it is for everyone to do what they want with. I simply can't see why anyone would want fanfiction withdrawn. Must have been some special case there. Interesting question, how big an event would have to be to split a world. The large events like battles and meteor strikes are obvious, but after that you are into chaos theory. I've been fascinated by this ever since I read Asimov and his notion of the minimum necessary change. One of his is the simple shifting of a shortly-to-be-needed cannister to a shelf where it won't be found - rather on the lines of 'For want of a nail the battle was lost...' You can think of all sorts of these. But there could be others - like butterflies in Brazil - or a tree root growing across a certain path - or a piece of paper accidentally shredded - or someone's baby crying all night so they were not their best the next day - or.. Well, I'm sure you can go on. Usually I find it easier to deal with the larger events, like Napoleon winning the battle of Waterloo (which he damn near did), causing all the aristocrats swanning around in Belgium to flee to India, thus making the world of curry and treacle pudding that Chrestomanci remarks on.

Fire and Hemlock

From Marie Denley

In preparing a recent lecture on Fire and Hemlock for my Children's Fantasy Literature course, I looked closely at names, titles etc. and their sources. (Well, I am a medievalist trained partly by your husband, whom I admire just as much as I admire you, so you can expect that kind of minute pedantry!) (1) The 'heroic' titles: is 'Tan' anything to do with the Welsh for 'Fire', as a sort of honorific - 'the fiery one'? (2) Does 'Coul' have any relation to Finn Mac Cool, as a prominent Celtic hero? (3) I'm stumped about the origins of the other heroic names of the Dumas Quartet members. Are they out of your head? (4) I'm also stumped with 'Obah Cypt'. I keep wanting it to be either an anagram, or related to some other form of wordplay/word-and-idea associative pattern, devices you use prominently in the book (e.g. with the permutations of Nowhere, or with the poisonous-plant female names, Ivy and Laurel). I've always been hopeless at anagrams in crosswords.However, my students weren't able to spot anything so I feel slightly less obtuse. I have read around quite a lot to try to solve these; I apologise if I've missed an obvious source. Perhaps I shouldn't be nit-picking like this, but Fire and Hemlock is such a patterned book that you offer the temptation.(For example, I assumed that Hunsdon House was the eighties version of Huntly Bank from the ballad.) Writing that lecture was probably the most enjoyable experience of my career. Thank you for writing a superbly rewarding novel, and for being willing to answer questions.

Diana's Reply

How nice that you were trained by John. Ok, answers: 1. Like most things in FIRE AND HEMLOCK 'Tan' has a double source. It is partly the Welsh word for fire, but it is also an adaptation of the medieval 'Dan' as in 'Dan Chaucer'. 2. 'Coul' does probably reflect Finn Mac Cool, but it also is 'cool!' in the way kids use it. I think there are other origins in there, but I'm not sure what. 3. The other names of the quartet are indeed out of my head, but I usually find there is some good reason for names, like reflecting 'Hannibal' and 'audacity'. 'Thare' defeats me too, though. 4. the Obah Cypt first occurred to me in a totally different piece of writing which will probably always remain as a five-finger exercise, though it gave certain things to the stories the quartet wrote. 'Obah' is an adaptation of 'Obeah', the West Indian form of (black, quite often) magic. 'Cypt' is a sort of anagram of 'ptyx' which seems to be a sort of holy vessel or container in use on Christian altars. So the whole thing means 'a container for dark magic'. 5. Yes, but 'Hunsdon House' is also a very formal country dance.

From Rachel

I absolutely love all your books. It's been particularly interesting to reread now what I read first years ago and see how it's changed (Norse gods--who knew!) Anyway, I have a few questions. In Archer's Goon, where in the book is it proved that "pig's fly, making them hard to catch." I get all the others, but I just can't find any pigs. Also, what are the references in Laurel, Morton, and Sebastian Leroy's names? The only one I got was 'Lorelei.' Plus one little thing that is probably irrelevent: I've never been able to figure out whether the other members of the 'family' in Fire and Hemlock, the ones at the funeral, etc., are immortal as well. Since I'm a little obsessed with Fire and Hemlock, I spend a lot of my time musing about this and researching Tam Lin. Well, that's the end of my ramblings. Thanks!

Other Comments

I'm a sixteen year old who lives in children's book stores and endures odd looks from the sensible adults who step over her.

Diana's Reply

The reference to pigs in ARCHER'S GOON is to Dillian and her disappearing house. Dillian farms the police and police are often (particularly in America, but here too sometimes) called pigs. 'Leroy' means 'the King' and Laurel and Morton are, in some sense, queen and king of faerie. Laurel has 'Lorelei' in there, but laurel also symbolises triumph and long (or even everlasting) life. It's only one of the names she takes over the centuries. Sebastian was the saint who was shot full of arrows. If you look at things from his point of view, he had a lot to bear. 'Morton' is a name that glances at 'mort' - death. Yes, the others at the funeral are mostly immortal too. One of them is Robin Goodfellow - ie Puck. I hope the sensible adults don't kick you as they step over.

From Libby

(Must start off with flattery...) I've just been reading the answers to the questions from March 2001, and I've noticed several times that you've mentioned things about your books coming true. Well, people always say "write what you know..." and I noticed that you gave Tom Lynn that gift in Fire and Hemlock. This wasn't a coincidence, was it? I loved F&H although it was so different from most of your other things -- took place in the "real" world (although we all know that it isn't the only one). Funniest thing happened -- I felt just like POlly -- I'd read the book last year, forgotten the title, and hadn't realized it until I started reading... So, was that jinx a coincidence, and will you be writing another part in the Chrestomanci series or the Dark Lord of Derkholm/Year of the Griffin series? S'il vous plait? Also -- who was the Chrestomanci in the Magicians of Caprona? Is TOUGH GUIDE TO FANTASYLAND available in the US? I haven't been able to find a copy. Thanks for listening to this loooong ramble! Thank you THANK YOU THANK YOU!! for writing such wonderful books.... don't ever stop. Know of a gateway to any related worlds in the Midwest US?

Diana's Reply

There are gateways all over, to go backwards through your message. The Tough Guide certainly IS available in the US. Ask a bookstore to order you a copy from Daw Books. The Chrestomanci was the same one in all the books - except for THE LIVES OF CHRISTOPHER CHANT, where that was Gabriel de Witt. And I can't tell you what I'll be writing next because I don't know myself usually until I start. And no, it was no coincidence about the things coming true in FIRE AND HEMLOCK. I was hoping to lay the jinx by this, but no chance. They still happen at me.

From jenni

about the book fire and hemlock, who is that woman Laurel suppose to be, like what kind of a moster is she and did she die?? what happened to the people after the car(horse) knocked into the rose bushes? what does the fire and hemlock picture signify? how did they overcome polly's charm

Diana's Reply

Laurel is the dreaded (and loved) immortal goddess who likes to carry off young men. She doesn't die. She has to take someone else's life to keep on living. The other people disappeared at the end when the car knocked over the rose bushes because they were immortals too and they were, for the moment, defeated. The fire and hemlock picture is the the thing called an Obah Cypt which was really a spell to enslave Mr Lynn's soul. Polly's charm was only a weak little opal. Strong magic can suck a thing like that dry in seconds.

Howl's Moving Castle / Castle in the Air

From Mashael Zaidi

Hi! I absolutely love Howl's Moving Castle (so much that when I first read it 4 years ago from the library, I wanted it so bad so that I could reread it that I typed it up on my computer...everyone thought I was crazy) and I wanted to know more about (I know you haven't written the sequel for it yet but you might have some ideas) life with Sophie, Howl, and Morgan, as well as what Lettie and Wizard Suliman's child's name is(is it a girl or a boy?). Basically, I wanted to know if you had any ideas for what they would be like in the future, names, traits, anything at all:) I already read that Morgan would have his parents worst traits, which is the most perfectly lovable and hilarious idea:)

Other Comments

I'm an almost 18 year old about to head off to university and I've cherished your characters from Howl's Moving Castle since I was 14. I also have a special affection for Poly and Thomas, as well as everyone from Castle in the Air.

Diana's Reply

I am IMPRESSED. You typed the whole book? You must know it almost as well as I do - in fact I know you do because you realise that Morgan would grow up with Sophie's faults as well as Howl's. I think Lettie's baby was a girl, wasn't it? When the book does get written I think some of the other kids in it will be the children of the two fat nieces and Dalzel. But I don't know more than that yet.

From Angela Nguyen

Hi! how are you? Well ive read your book called castle in the air and i'm doing a book report on that book and i would just like to know more infomation about. Anything will do just a bit more infomation will do. thank you. Angela

Other Comments

Well i just want to say i really enjoy reading your books. bye

Diana's Reply

I think all you need to know is either in the book or on the website.

From Katie

Is there any chance of another book with Howl and Sophie? (Howl's Moving Castle is my favourite)

Other Comments

I hope you do write another book with Howl and Sophie.

Diana's Reply

I keep wanting to do another book about Howl, but it so far won't come to me.

From Margaret

My favorite book of yours is Howl's Moving Castle. I've loved it for years and years. I have read the sequel to it and was wondering if you plan on writing another.

Other Comments

I'm 19 and am attending school in California. I am a music and technical theatre major. My mother is a librarian so you can imagine how early I started devouring books.

Diana's Reply

Yes, I would like to do another book about the moving castle, but, even though I know a lot of things that would be in it, the book has not yet shown itself ready to be written. It's something I keep in mind though. (I may say I have tried to do this book five times, and it still isn't ready).

From Aifric Ní Ruairc

Dear Diana, I would really love for you to write another book about Sophie and Howl. They are so interesting and I want to know more about them. I loved Howls's Moving Castle and Castle In The Air. Any chance of another?

Other Comments

I am 11 years old. I love reading but your books are my favourite. I think that even J.K. Rowling robs your i

Diana's Reply

I would really love to write another book about Sophie and Howl, but it doesn't happen that easily. I would love to have Morgan in it when he is older and also the kids of the two fat nieces (who I know were born with tiny useless wings and rather long teeth) but books don't come to me because I plan them. They happen at me, and so far a new book about Sophie and Howl hasn't happened.

From Aaron Casto

I was wondering how you came to make the story of Howls Moving Castle?

Other Comments

I am 13 and have read Howls Moving Castle 4 times.

Diana's Reply

I made the story of HOWL'S MOVING CASTLE because I visited a school where a boy of almost exactly your age asked me if I'd ever written a book about a moving castle. That turned out to be the spark that set the book going.

From Hong

I love how you twisted the Fairy Tale formula in "Howl's Moving Castle", especially the stepmother and "eldest of three" aspect. I'm someone who loves fairy tales but at the same time, enjoys making parodies of them and I wondered if you felt the same way. And will we see Michael or Martha again soon? And definitely, where can I get a Howl of my own?

Other Comments

Sophie and Howl are my current favorite couple, which I find surpisingly because not until the very end was there even a hint of romance. Not even romance novels have given me a couple as satisfying as those two are. I simply adore them, on their own and together.

Diana's Reply

You'll have to join a very long line to get a Howl of your own, unless you happen to run into him before the rest of us! The line now stretches all the way round the world. Yes, I do like incorporating fairy tales into my books - and not usually twisting them, more adapting them to the present day - because they are the kind of tale that says more about life and people than any other. And, as I have written to other people on this page, nothing seems to make a new book about Howl and the others GO anywhere yet, although I have made several tries. Books will never be forced.

On Harry Potter

From Elizabeth Brown

Dear Diana, I'm a new reader of your books and I was wondering if you were a little upset about the Harry Potter boom and some of the "adaptations" JK Rowling made from your books?

Other Comments

19 and wishing the bookshops had more of your stuff

Diana's Reply

Yes, I was a little upset, because that amount of borrowing merits some kind of acknowledgement at least. I just don't know how deliberate the plagiarism was. And I got very tired of scandal-seeking pressmen asking what my feelings were. I usually gave them a smoooth answer about how good it was for the genre and was always pleased when they said 'You're no fun!' and went away.

From nadine

i just have to say, i think your books are amazing, and i think you are one of the most underrated childrens author! but what do you think of the harry potter series by j.k. rowling?

Diana's Reply

Thank you. I enjoyed the Harry Potter books, but I did find some parts of them strangely familiar.

From Alisha

Witch book was published first, "Charmed Life" or JK Rowlings Harry Potter books. There are alot of same things in the books. Your books are great!

Other Comments

Im 14 years old, and I love to read alot of different kinds of books!

Diana's Reply

My books were published 25 - 20 years before the Harry Potter books. My guess is that JK Rowling read them when she was your age. I think she must have liked them.

From Emmanuel

First, I want to thank Diana for her answer to my preceeding question, on the possible inspiration by J.K. Rowling on her own writings. Speaking with friends about this possibility, I learned today that a writer called Nancy Stouffer is filing a lawsuit against J.K. Rowling for copying her book "The Legend of Rah and the Muggles", featuring a young hero called Larry Potter and published in 1984. An article on this matter has been published in "Le Voir" a newspaper from Quebec in Canada. So I just want to pass this piece of information to Diana for her reference.

Diana's Reply

Thank you. I had heard about Nancy Stouffer actually. The fact that she was not Rowling's only source adds to my feeling that she sopped up these things unconsciously when she was young. Did you know - this is something similar - that Beatrix Potter lived as a child near a big London cemetary where the graves are, to this day, labelled Peter Rabbett and Jeremiah Fisher, both people who died before BP was born? What I mean is that things stick in your head when you're young and you don't always know where you got them from.

From Sara Krasner

I absolutely love Diana's Chrestomanci series! But I also love the Harry Potter books. Does Diana Wynne Jones ever feel uncomfortable having a little "competition"? Even if she does, I still think her books are wonderful.

Other Comments

I'm 13 and I really appreciate Diana's work. I hope she keeps on writing. She brightens the imaginations of her readers. Her books are definetly on my favorite books list!

Diana's Reply

'Competition' isn't really a problem to most writers. Most of the time you're delighted that someone has liked your books enough to do something similar - for instance the current best-selling fantasy in America was inspired by my book EIGHT DAYS OF LUKE and the writer sent it to me before it was published to see what I thought. And I told him FANTASTIC! And look at it this way: most books are only several hundred pages long and people can't keep rereading them too often, so they will naturally then want to read another book quite like it. So nobody loses.

From Lisa Jo Rudy

Dear Diana, I discovered your books as a grown up -- introduced by an editor who was helping me along with my own YA novels. I believe the first book I read was Witch Week -- and I found it to be one of the most original and intriguing works of fantasy I had ever read. I'm reading my way through your entire booklist now. Yet somehow, even with an interest in YA fantasy and SF, no one had ever sung your praises to me! Knowing all that -- I have to ask you how you feel about the extraordinary reactions folks are having to Harry Potter. I had one friend of my parents tell me how marvelous it was that someone had come up with the idea of writing about a school for wizards... and how wonderful to read about MAGIC of all things! I mean -- they're great fun, well written -- but Rowling seems to be getting credit for inventing the fantasy genre! Thanks so much for your thoughts.

Other Comments

Would you be willing to read and/or comment on unpublished sf/fantasy? I know this is probably an outrageous imposition but hey -- it can't hurt to ask!

Diana's Reply

Best wishes for your YA novels. And, yes, I don't think I can be the only writer of YA fantasy who gets irritated that most adults seem to think Rowling invented the genre. You do wonder what all these ignorant people were reading when they were young.

From Shaun

Hi Diana, I don't mean to be irritating, just curious. My question is: between your own books and JK Rowling's Harry Potter books, whose would you prefer to read and why? Have you read all of the HP books? Do they fascinate you?

Other Comments

I'm 22 this year

Diana's Reply

Well, actually, I'd always rather read a book by someone else. I know too well what's coming next in my own books. This problem, unfortunately, arises with the Harry Potter books too. I hope I never end up on a desert island with only the choice you gave me!

From Cody Kinker

What do you think of the Harry Potter series? Are you going to write a sequel to your book Witch Week? (thats my favorite book you have written) Also do you write the anwers yourself?

Other Comments

13years old male

Diana's Reply

I do write the answers myself. No one else knows what the answers should be. When you ask about a sequel to WITCH WEEK, do you mean something that isn't the other books about the enchanter Chrestomanci? The problem with WITCH WEEK is that by the end of that book the world that it happens in is destroyed, melted back into our own world, and it would be hard to do a sequel from here.

Dark Lord of Derkholm / Year of the Griffin / Tough Guide

From Paul Andinach

I've been rereading 'The Dark Lord of Derkholm' recently, and some of the character names have been bothering me; I keep getting the feeling that there's some trick to the pronunciation. Is "Derk" pronounced to rhyme with "irk" or "ark"? Is there some trick to Mr Chesney's name, or is it pronounced the way it's spelled? Are there any other character names (in any of your books) with tricky pronunciations we should know about?

Other Comments

I'm 20 years old, and I live in Australia. I've been a Diana Wynne Jones fan for years and years and years. I think the world would be a dimmer and less interesting place without any Diana Wynne Jones books in it. Thank you very much, Diana.

Diana's Reply

'Derk' is pronounced 'urk'. I think it is that world's form of Derek, but I wanted it to be like a knife-name, like Blade. And, well, Chesney COULD be pronounced to rhyme with Disney - I certainly had that in mind. But don't tell any lawyers. Thank you for enjoying my books. You have no idea how encouraging it is when someone tells me that.

From Liz

I just finished reading The Year of the Griffin and was wondering if there are going to be any more books about Derkholm.

Diana's Reply

There will be more books about Derkholm because I have sworn so to my sister, but I'm afraid I won't be able to start on one until next year at least.

From moira

do plan on writing any more books that are set in the world of year of the griffin and dark lord of derkholm... i really enjoyed them and would love to see more

Diana's Reply

yes, I swear, I have sworn, I love writing about griffins.

From Rose

When will you make the sequel to Year Of The Griffen?

Other Comments

I love your books andI love to read. I hope you keep up the hard work.

Diana's Reply

I am not sure when I will do the sequel to YEAR OF THE GRIFFIN. I am still thinking about what will be in it.

From Hannah

Hi my name's Hannah and I'm sorry if someone's already asked this but I couldn't find it anywhere. But, is there a sequel to Year of a Griffin? I bought it last week and I'd finished it the same day. It was absolutely brilliant and I read it again the following day, but I desperately need more of the same!!!! Is there a sequel? If there isn't, please please please can you write another? Write a whole series. Twenty if not more!!!! And make Kit and Elda the main characters!!! Please!!!! I first read the Skiver's guide when I found it a jumble sale and I was hooked. I didn't manage to find anymore of your books until I found a section in my local bookshop saying "if you liked Harry..you'll love this" and they had all your Chrestomanci series. Ever since, I've have been begging, cajoling and threatening my friends with death (not really) to read your books. I really love the world you've created with Dark lord of Derkholm and all that's keeping me going through my AS-levels is that someday you will write a third instalment if one doesn't already exist!!! A little bit of emotional blackmail will do my cause no end of harm but I want to say that you are a brilliant and humane writer and I think your books deserve to be as widely known as HP as they are just as good if not better. So I say it again! Please please please please please write more books about Derk's world, I know it's not up to me and I can't force you but I'm still going to try! Thanks for all you've written, Hannah (o:

Other Comments

I'm 16 and I live in London. I am an AS-level student and I don't know whether to study Chemistry or English at university, Arg! (o: I love reading I miss it so much, now that I have so litle time. Thanks for many hours of pleasure in the school library and at home when I've been reading your books.

Diana's Reply

My sister feels the same way as you do about YEAR OF THE GRIFFIN and has made me swear a solemn oath that I will write more about griffins in Derk's world. So, you see I have to write it eventually. I am as sorry as you are that it isn't NOW. I have been terribly busy these last two years with other things, and then I was ill, so nothing has been written at all lately. Do not despair though. I love writing about Kit and Elda and almost can't wait. Best of luck in your AS-levels.

From Justin

I'm currently reading the Derkholm books and went back to read the Tough Guide as prep (Loved the mention of "Gna'ash" in Dark Lord of Derkholm :)! ) and realized the map is Europe upside down. Then I further realized that the placenames, for the most part, are anagrams of real places (Caysib=Biscay; Rowany=Norway) and was wondering if that was intentional? If so, what does "Nuneaton" represent? Also, will Harper keep the books in constant print? I've been picking them up as I find them, but stores have been having a difficult time ordering them.

Other Comments

Charmed Life was actually the first fantasy I ever read, followed by the other three Chrestomanci books. Now, at 17, I've read all the big authors, including all the works of yours I can find in the Seattle area. Thanks for getting me into this wonderful genre!

Diana's Reply

The map of Europe upside down in the TOUGH GUIDE was the idea of my agent's daughter (who is also my goddaughter) when she was about 14. We thought it was brilliant of her. Then my agent and I had a wonderful day's fun filling in names, a lot of them, as you realised, normal names backwards, and some just made up, like The Scrots. But my agent said one of the things that always annoyed and amused her was the way one or two names on the maps were always names of improbably ordinary towns - like Nuneaton. So we put in Nuneaton, though it could easily have been Bognor Regis or Hartlepool or Devizes. I hope Harper will keep the books in print. But you never know with publishers. At the moment they are reissuing most of them, so I hope your bookshop will be able to get hold of them. The ordering of books is ridiculously difficult. I have had a book on order from the States for four months now and there's still no sign of it.

#questions for diana

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