Interview with Fiona McIntosh, english version

How do you feel about "Myrren's Gift" being out in France?

When the French deal went ahead I was tremendously excited. Growing up in England meant trips to Paris in particular were not uncommon and it's a city close to my heart... certainly one of my favourite cities to visit and visit I do, as often as I can from Australia. I'm so delighted to be working with Bragelonne because the team there is so in love with what they do – that enthusiasm permeates throughout the organization, all the way to the translator working on my books, who lives in a tiny village in France. Everyone loves their work and that is a wonderful atmosphere for any author to be involved with – it makes you feel that your books are precious to these people. So many times I've wandered through French bookshops, noticing how much you enjoy Robin Hobb and writers of her calibre. I used to dream that one day my books might make it onto these same shelves. It is so satisfying to know the dream is now reality and I can't wait to get myself across to France again to see The Quickening in bookshops for myself. And I think the artwork for the cover is sensational – the best of all the markets...and I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. My website artwork was produced by a French artist!

In retrospect, what are your thoughts concerning your debut?

Nervous. But then I always am. I want French readers to enjoy the series and I'm hopeful my publisher will buy Trinity or Percheron if The Quickening takes off well in French translation. I have already received some lovely email from France, so it seems as though Myrren's Gift has had a good start.

Your characters are reminiscent of Robin Hobb's. I know that you two are friends. How would you define that relationship?

I consider it one of the most special relationships in my life. How we came to meet is a long and humorous story - which I won't go into here - but suffice to say that it was friendship at first sight and we do try to ensure our schedules collide somewhere in the world as often as possible. I was very lucky that Robin did a promotional tour of Australia during 2006, so we caught up in Melbourne, and then I flew to Texas to participate in World Fantasy Convention, where Robin was Guest of Honour. Twice in a year – we feel very spoilt! Robin is an extraordinary talent and I look up to her as one of my mentors and long before we were friends, I was a dedicated fan of her glorious work. Our styles are vastly different. She is a slow burn writer. who builds her story gradually. I throw my readers straight into the action and my books tend to be a rollercoaster read from page one. Fitz and the Fool are my two favourite characters in fantasy, so for you to my characters are reminiscent of Robin Hobb is a huge compliment. Perhaps it's because we both punish our main characters so much.

Sorry about that, but isn't Prince Celimus a little bit "over the top" ?

Not at all! Villains are meant to be thoroughly devious and evil and in fantasy there's no such thing as over the top. I'm sure I can do much more over the top, and probably will. He's exceptionally cruel, though, and has absolutely no redeeming qualities – especially as there's no need for his behaviour. This is a man with everything and so much going for him. He kept evolving, becoming so nasty by book 3 that no come-uppance felt satisfying enough! Mind you, wait until you meet Goth in the Trinity series or Salmeo in Odalisque.

The internet has turned out to be an important tool to promote books. Have you used the web to promote your novels?

Absolutely, I have. It is the single most valuable method for marketing my work. Why? Because it helps the most powerful marketing tool of all to flourish... and that's word of mouth but it works on a global scale with the Net. It's brilliant and I pay a lot of attention to having an attractive site and lively bulletin board that makes all visitors from around the world feel most welcome.

Does the fact that you live in Australia bring another dimension to the writing of your novels?

No, I never thought it did. And to this day I can't see why. Some Australian writers like to use the local landscape but I was born and raised the UK so the scenery I love most will always be of a more European nature with hills and meadows, mountains and valleys, rivers and streams and lot of the colour green... and forests – enchanted ones! Not until Robin Hobb at World Fantasy Con began discussing why Australian sf writers might be different to writers from the U.S. for instance, did it occur to me that there may be a difference. In her opinion Aussies seem to approach fantasy with a devil-may-care attitude and a no holds barred notion of what might be considered taboo in America for example. She believes Australian writers take readers to places that perhaps some writers in other markets might fear to tread. I'm sure she's referring to some of the more ghoulish scenes in The Quickening or perhaps it's the making of the eunuchs scene in Odalisque? Or was it that torture scene in Myrren or maybe it's the shocking branding and bridling in Trinity? Hmmm.

What can you tell us about your latest work, "Odalisque?" Will it be released in France?

Odalisque is book one of Percheron. This is a story set in a land very reminiscent of Constantinople during the great Ottoman era. I have borrowed very heavily from medieval Turkey and ancient Persia. So it's very exotic, very rich and colourful in its scenery and lifestyles. It's essentially the tale of Ana, a simple goatherd's daughter who is sold into a harem being assembled for a new Zar. And of course Ana is anything but a simple goatherd's daughter and life in the palace will never be the same. It plays with palace politics, faith, war and all the usual betrayal and treachery that peppers my stories. Of course there is a marvellous forbidden love story and a cyclical battle of the gods – yes, I think that covers it! Oh yes, and there's Lazar. Now there's a delicious man to lose one's heart to. (sigh)

Will it be released in France? I do hope so! We should know around mid 2007.

Some miscellaneous questions, now! What is your opinion about the fantasy genre in the last decade? What are your favourite authors?

Favourite authors are easy. I would read anything, including the shopping lists, of Guy Gavriel Kay, a French Canadian author who splits his time between Toronto and Provence. Nobody writes like Guy. I think his work is magnificent. And without a doubt, Robin Hobb. Anyone who hasn't read her Farseer series should be chinese burned! I have enjoyed many writers, including George R R Martin and Stephen Donaldson. But Guy and Robin are the writers whose books I would hope would be with me if I'm ever trapped on a deserted island.

What do I think of the fantasy genre over the last decade? Well, I love that it is trampling over all the genre boundaries – horror, crime, romance, thriller, history, etc, and bursting through in to the mainstream consciousness. I like that it is so hugely popular now and readers are declaring themselves, i.e. that it's no longer geeky to love sf. I'm impressed that we have such a plethora of conventions around the world that are well attended. Most of all I like that there are so many sub-genres beneath the umbrella of sf. And that very dark stories abound amongst the traditional high fantasy.

What is your favourite aspect of writing?

I have two. The first is developing my lead character – always a man – and lots of fun. The second is meeting readers – always a joy.

How would you define your relation with fans ? Can their expectations sometimes weigh you down?

I have a very good relationship with the loyal followers of my stories. I make myself extremely accessible to readers and I am prepared to stay in touch and answer all email personally. I visit my bulletin board several times a day to welcome new guests and to answer all their questions. I enjoy it. This is not a chore but it is time consuming and I give it gladly in return for their faith in my stories and especially for new readers giving my books a go.

I think it's important that readers have high expectations because it keeps me on my toes and determined to deliver fast paced, totally addictive tales. I do find it tough when they second guess how the stories are going to end. They cover every possible scenario down to the smallest detail so you can no longer spring any ending that someone can't say – ah, see, I told you so. And then some readers have a very strong idea of what you should do with a story and don't hesitate to let you know.

I don't let this weigh me down, though. Readers are perfectly entitled to their desires and dreams – that's the point, of course with enjoying a book. It's lovely that many get so involved in the story and the characters that it feels real enough for them to discuss it on the Net at length. I don't let it influence me and I just hope they trust that if it doesn't quite go the way they envisaged, then that's okay too.

How do you react to book reviews ?Are they important to you?

Book reviews can be critical depending on where they appear.

I despise it that someone on the Net can be enormously critical of anyone's story without the writer having any right of response. Those nasty critiques can hang around for good and are often written by people with no qualifications to be writing intelligent, articulate reviews and who aren't really giving much thought to how damaging their careless words can be. By the same token, good reviews are fantastic, no matter who they're written by! So, with that in mind, authors have to take the good with the bad and try to take a balanced view and to always remember that they can't please everyone.

Of course good reviews are important – and in the right publication can be very influential on the minds of the consumer. But I don't run my life by them and I certainly wouldn't tailor a story in the hope that it might please some reviewers.

In other words, they're important to a point – especially when a new writer is being launched in a market, for instance. Good reviews can be helpful to establish that writer's credential quickly. A good review is mostly useful for the marketing team in the publishing house to which you belong.

Do you have any book recommendations for our readers, fantasy or otherwise?

If your readers haven't read Tigana, by Guy Gavriel Kay, what have you been doing with yourself? Go out now and buy Assassin's Apprentice by Robin Hobb and indeed everything by GGK and Hobb. There's plenty to choose from with either author and none will let you down.

What would you wish for the new year?

Well, let's keep this totally shallow and selfish shall we?... I'd very much like a silver nano iPod to replace my hefty 20GB old fashioned iPod that feels like I'm carrying a shoe on my hip. I'd like to own a pair of Manolo Blahnik shoes and be able to do that Beyonce ‘hooch' bounce in my dance class like the rest of the gals – all 20 years younger than me! And I'd rather like to meet Colin Firth. Oh yes, and for The Quickening to be optioned for a movie. I have all the actors worked out. Finally...that my French publisher says yes please to Odalisque, Emissary and Goddess... <grin>

Last but not least, is there anything you wish to share with your (future) French fans?

Well a big thank you, of course. I appreciate that there is a wealth of choice out there, not just for your fiction in general but for fantasy. There's so many new writers on the shelves it is daunting and I am always grateful that any reader gives my work a go as I do understand how hard it is to try out a new writer. I do hope my stories please.

I'd like to let French readers know that I will be coming to Paris in 2008 – I may not be able to get to many other places in France because time is always tight on my schedules - but in the meantime, they're most welcome to contact me at my bulletin board or to email me at fiona@fionamcintosh.com

They might also like to know that in my former career as a travel writer I scoured the globe for the best hot chocolate for many years and the current world title holder is The Four Seasons Hotel in Paris... oh my word, it's a good chocolate. And if anyone's got any amazing chocolate cake recipes, then I would love to share them. Have I mentioned that my obsession is chocolate?

Pages de l'article

1. Entretien avec Fiona McIntosh, version française
2. Interview with Fiona McIntosh, english version