Q&A with Alan Bradley discussion

To Alan: Do you plan on writing another mystery series?

Also to Alan: What kind of research did you do on Romany culture to come up with the characters of The Gypsy/Fenella and Procelain?

I love the voice of Flavia and wonder if you had an inspiration for her character (family, friend, etc.)?

I'm also very interested to find out how you decided to use 11 yo girl as your protagonist.

Kristine wrote: "I love the voice of Flavia and wonder if you had an inspiration for her character (family, friend, etc.)?

I'm also very interested to find out how you decided to use 11 yo girl as your protagonist."

Actually in the back of the book your question was answered.

I have listened to the first two books on a downloadable audio book. Thank you for having this format avaialable. My friend from Wales tells me the accent of the reader is just perfect for that area of the country. Did you select her? or is that a task of the audio recording company?

Megt wrote: "Kristine wrote: "I love the voice of Flavia and wonder if you had an inspiration for her character (family, friend, etc.)?

I'm also very interested to find out how you decided to use 11 yo girl..."

Well since I don't own the books I'd still like the questions answered again - thank you!

I love Flavia's inquisitiveness and spunk! I look forward to #4.

I can't seem to get my hands on the next Flavia de Luce book.

For all of us short sighted people, would any of the books be available in Large Print editions yet?

A humble inquiry to the esteemed Alan Bradley:

As a literary enthusiast and aspired fiction writer, could you provide details in the research process necessary in effortlessly displaying the setting of mid-twentieth Century, English countryside? The cultural details of the rural folk, regarding customs and colloquialisms, are simply astounding and truly paint a vivid picture of that time.

Deanna wrote: "For all of us short sighted people, would any of the books be available in Large Print editions yet?"

Hi, Deanna,

All of the Flavia books are available in Canada, the US, and the Uk in large-print editions. The best way to track them down is probably to do a search on Amazon.

Good luck - and thanks for asking!

Alan

Tracy wrote: "I have listened to the first two books on a downloadable audio book. Thank you for having this format avaialable. My friend from Wales tells me the accent of the reader is just perfect for that are..."

Dear Tracy,

I assume you are referring to the US audiobook editions read by Jayne Entwistle (there are several others available in the UK, read by Jilly Bond and Emilia Fox).

The reader is chosen by the producers of the audiobook in each case.

Alan

Megt wrote: "To Alan: Do you plan on writing another mystery series?"

I think I'd like to, but not until after the sixth book of the Flavia series is published.

Best regards,

Alan

Heidi wrote: "Also to Alan: What kind of research did you do on Romany culture to come up with the characters of The Gypsy/Fenella and Procelain?"

I've always been interested in reading about Gypsy life and culture. The research for "A Red Herring Without Mustard" involved sources published between 1850 and 1950.

Alan

Which of the three books in the series was most enjoyable for you to write? I personally loved all of them!

Jenna wrote: "Which of the three books in the series was most enjoyable for you to write? I personally loved all of them!"

That's a tough question, Jenna!

I view all six books as constituting one long, continuous story.

I've enjoyed writing all of them so far, even though the first book was written following a disastrous forest fire and the writing of the second was interrupted by a flood!

The third and fourth books have been written in relatively quiet surroundings.

Best regards,

Alan

Does this mean that there will only be six books in the series? I would love to follow Flavia at least into her early teens.

Pat wrote: "Does this mean that there will only be six books in the series? I would love to follow Flavia at least into her early teens."


It means that there will be at least six books in the series.

After that? We'll have to see...

Alan

Hi Alan,
Bravo on such a GREAT series! I just love Flavia. Nancy Drew with a dash of Lemony Snicket with a sprinkling of a young Angela Lansbury from Murder She Wrote. (where she road her bike around town solving murder after murder in her little town) Gladys is my favorite "supporting character". I love the conversations Flavia has with her bike...too funny!
So, here's my question: Will there be a book tour in the States promoting "Red Herring"? If so, where can I view the schedule?

Thank you! Looking forward to Book #4.

Lindsey

Lindsey wrote: "Hi Alan,
Bravo on such a GREAT series! I just love Flavia. Nancy Drew with a dash of Lemony Snicket with a sprinkling of a young Angela Lansbury from Murder She Wrote. (where she road her bike aro..."

Hi, Lindsey.

There probably won't be a "Red Herring" book tour of the US and Canada. I was there for five weeks last year when "The Weed That Strings the Hangman's Bag " was published. This year has focused on Europe. With Flavia now being published in 34 countries and in 31 languages besides English, we've been trying to schedule things to accommodate some of the other countries in in which she's a best seller: Germany and Norway, in recent months, with a Polish tour to come a bit later in the year. I've just returned from the UK, where we celebrated publication of "A Red Herring Without Mustard".

Maybe next year...

Many thanks for your kind comments!

Alan

I really enjoy these books, and am looking forward to the next one.

As a GR Librarian, I have a question. Is "Seeds of Antiquity (Flavia de Luce #4)" the same book as "I Am Half Sick of Shadows"?

Susanna wrote: "I really enjoy these books, and am looking forward to the next one.

As a GR Librarian, I have a question. Is "Seeds of Antiquity (Flavia de Luce #4)" the same book as "I Am Half Sick of Shadows"?"

Hi, Susanna,

"I Am Half-Sick of Shadows" is the same book as the previously (and temporarily entitled) "Death In Camera".

I sometimes use a "bookmarked" or temporary title during the writing process.

"Seeds of Antiquity" is actually the working title for book five of the Flavia series. The final title of this volume is yet to be announced.

Thanks for your interest!

Alan

Alan wrote: "Megt wrote: "To Alan: Do you plan on writing another mystery series?"

I think I'd like to, but not until after the sixth book of the Flavia series is published.

Best regards,

Alan"

Thank you for that new bit of information.

Alan wrote: "Deanna wrote: "For all of us short sighted people, would any of the books be available in Large Print editions yet?"

Hi, Deanna,

All of the Flavia books are available in Canada, the US, and the U..."

That's great - not having to squint allows me to enjoy a book so much more!

Alan wrote: "Lindsey wrote: "Hi Alan,
Bravo on such a GREAT series! I just love Flavia. Nancy Drew with a dash of Lemony Snicket with a sprinkling of a young Angela Lansbury from Murder She Wrote. (where she ro..."

Thanks for the info, Alan. A European book signing tour sounds amazing! Enjoy. I'll cross my fingers for a "Half-Sick" Tour in the States. :-)

Kristine wrote: "Megt wrote: "Kristine wrote: "I love the voice of Flavia and wonder if you had an inspiration for her character (family, friend, etc.)?

I'm also very interested to find out how you decided to use..."

Hi, Kristine,

I don't think I consciously chose an eleven year old narrator. Flavia simply walked into another book I was writing and demanded to be listened to. I'm still listening!

Alan

Alan wrote: "Kristine wrote: "Megt wrote: "Kristine wrote: "I love the voice of Flavia and wonder if you had an inspiration for her character (family, friend, etc.)?

I'm also very interested to find out how y..."

Great way to describe your inspiration for Flavia.