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Q: Why did you first start writing?
A: Well, it was either that or nick from Tesco's in the afternoons, you know. I used to like reading and you read enough books and you overflow and then you start writing. It's never a good idea to ask a man on a tight-rope how he keeps his balance: a) he would probably fall off and b) he probably doesn't know what the muscles are called in any case. I've been doing it so long now, I don't think about it in any conscious way.
Q: 'Interesting Times', was it written because fans wanted more Rincewind and Twoflower?
A: In a way fans always want the last book they read again, and if I'd listened to them, by now I would have written 16 books about Rincewind and the Luggage and 16 books about DEATH. What I've always said was, hang in there, let me write what I want to write, and you'll probably like it. I knew that people would like another Rincewind one. I've never really forgotten about him. He's been around since ' Eric', but I didn't do it just because they wanted one.
Q: Are you surprised at how popular the Discworld books have become?
A: I don't know... there's no control. I don't know what I expected. I suppose yes. When I started, I thought it'd be OK, I'd make a bob or two, be able to go on holiday. But it happened very quickly.
Q: Who is your favorite character?
A: Pass, most of them I like, possibly Granny Weatherwax.
Q: Are any of your characters based on people you know, do they know and if so, when are the libel cases?
A: I know someone called Geetha. She is of pagan persuasion, but bears no relation to Nanny Ogg, but we decided she could sue me for "reformation" of character. What she objected to was me saying that Nanny Ogg liked small children, and she doesn't like small children. Nanny Ogg is based fairly closely to one lady I used to know, but a lot of it is based on observations. Everyone has met a Magrat. You can't throw a brick in a new age book shop without hitting at least one Magrat.
Q: Can you see yourself collaborating with other writers again in the future?
A: Well I am not going to say a definite no, because who knows what the future holds. But there are no plans. ' Good Omens'? We did that as a fun thing, a one-off, but we never intended to do any more. We discussed a sequel... Both of us thought the other guy wanted to do a sequel and then we found out that, no, neither did. It was fun to do it once, as a kind of relaxation exercise, and doing it a second time wouldn't be as much fun. It's very popular with the more avid fans. I know if I do a signing in a university town I'll get many a dog-eared copy of 'Good Omens'.
Q: What do you read?
A: Well in the car coming up this morning, I read 'Made in America' by Bill Bryson, because I like Bill Bryson. I don't read an awful lot of fiction and when I do, it tends to be lightweight stuff...Carl Hiassen - an American author and George McDonald. It's a guilty secret of a lot of writers, as you get older you don't read as much fiction as you used to, mainly because it's like you are deconstructing it all the time.
Q: Where did you get your hat from?
A: These are the real secrets of the rich and famous! They are made by H^?ckel. I get mine from a little shop in Walcot Street, Bath, called Billie Jean. If anyone wants one my advise is to go where the orthodox Jews shop, because when it comes to a big black fedora, the guys with ringlets and long black coats definitely know a stylish hat when they see one. You want to get it home and use a hot steaming kettle, and bob's your uncle - you have a hat with all the right curves!
Q: Is there any movement for you towards the film area?
A: The trouble is... to call to them molluscs would be an insult to the oyster population! Certainly the Americans want to buy rights, but have no idea what to do with them. They write to me spelling Rincewind wrong. TV people in the UK... I'm getting on a lot better with them. 'Johnny and the Dead' has just finished being filmed. I went down to the canal bank where they had two security guards to guard the rubbish all night so people didn't come and nick it. It got Brian Blessed and Jane Lapotaire in it and it will be going out in the Spring. It has won awards and things, but won't be published in America because American publishers say it's too difficult for American children. Unfortunately, if the film industry means American film makers I don't think the Discworld will be done.
Q: How many Banana Daiquiris can you drink in one night?
A: You can't drink very many. I mean banana daiquiris aren't knock-'em-back-by-the-flagon. A good banana daiquiri is hard to come by. I've only ever found one place in this country that makes a proper one, and that's in Leeds.
Q: Will you ever give up The Discworld books?
A: To the best of my knowledge noone is very anxious to see the Discworld stop. I think my publishers have palpitations at the very thought... I'm sorry to say, I've already had good ideas for what two more books could be about. What I'm saying is that there won't be a new Discworld book in the spring. One reason is... it's all you buggers, it's the traveling, the signing tour and the mail sleets up. It's become unreal. I'll go on writing but they are not all going to be Discworld books. I'll do a Discworld book when I want to. I'd like to do other things too!
Q: Finally, what's in the pipeline at the moment?
A: I'm working on another Discworld book with the witches in and will probably do another book with Johnny Maxwell in after that. I am not certain.
Hope that keeps you all happy and cheers to all of you who gave me some questions
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