1. Are you planning on making another picture book of Redwall, like "The Great Redwall Feast"? I love your novels as well, but the pictures and rhyme in "Feast" were wonderful. Think you will ever make another picture book like that, with Christopher Denise? (Chris Stibrany, Boulder, Colorado)
I am fully intending to write another picture book and yes indeed I will ask Christopher Denise to illustrate, but I am not quite at the planning stage as I am currently deeply involved in the throes of another Redwall novel (as yet untitled).
2. Are you ever planning to add 'American' accented animals to your stories?? (Matt Kessler, Silverdale, Washington)
I'm not planning to have American accented animals, I like to stick to things I know well. British accents are so many and varied that I never get tired of them.
3. How did Timballisto get his name? Martin didn't tell his friends how Tim got his name because he was too busy preparing for battle in 'Mossflower'. (Julian Ho, Singapore)
Timballisto and his father were very adept at making and designing weapons especially the Ballista hence their name.
4. Whenever the hares or badgers from Salamandastron go to war, they shout the battle cry Eeulaliaaaaaa! Where does it come from, and what does it mean? (Ben Hayes, Bellaire, Texas)
Eulalia is a Celtic/Norse battle cry which means Victory!!
5. I was wondering if you do a lot of research into old languages and mythology, since I found that Salamandastron was named after the salamander, a creature which I found, according to mythology, has close ties with the element of fire. (Jesse Breazeale, Redding, California)
I don't research in as much as I pore over books (I haven't the time) but I have a very retentive memory and have read extensively mostly heroic and adventurous stories of all kinds, many of the references have been picked up and absorbed this way, reading is a marvelous education!
6. Will you write or publish any more collections of short stories, similar to Seven Strange and Ghostly Tales? (Ben Swank, Washburn, Maine)
I have another collection of ghostly stories in mind, in fact some are already written. It is I'm afraid a time problem again. I have so many demands on my time that writing is gradually being sqeezed into only four or five months of the year.
7. Where can I get the Redwall Calendar and diary? (Jeff Lugowe, Westmont, New Jersey)
Redwall calendar was for 1994 and is now no longer available and the same is true of the diary which was for 1995 - sorry. Join the Redwall readers club for updates on available merchandise.
8. Have you ever considered beginning a new series? (Hans Fly, Redlands, California and Elliott Kim, Loma Linda, California)
Yes I have considered it but readers howl when I mention not doing another Redwall book, so who am I to say no?
9. Have you ever thought of having raccoons in the Redwall books? They were once native to Britain (I think!). (Amy Ross, Rowledge, Surrey)
No raccoons I am afraid, they just aren't British wot wot!
10. Hi, I have always wanted to know why aren't there any chipmunks in Redwall. Or are they the "Painted Ones" in Mattimeo? (Nancy Lohmiller, Sharon, Massachusetts)
The same goes for chipmunks, not a bally one in the old U.K.
11. I know that the character of Gonff is based on you, but who is the character of Martin or Matthias (one in the same...sorta) based on? (Josie Bowler, Bay Area, California)
No one person is the model for either Martin or Matthias. Rather they are a mixture of good and noble characters from my reading and honest and brave friends from my life.
12. Have you ever thought of using mythological creatures in your stories? Not that I don't adore them the way they are, but I'd like to see how the Redwallers would react if a dragon swooped in or a goblin began haunting the GateHouse! (Emma Hite, Bow, Washington)
No - I have used creatures that I know mostly and tried to imbibe mystery here and there into some creatures whose species is not specified, but I am not a fan of sword and sorcery so that I will never have goblins or dragons or any purely mythical creatures in my world of Redwall.
13. In Salamandastron, the Deepcoiler was often mentioned, yet I never figured out exactly what it was. What was the Deepcoiler?
(Liz Veeneman, Lincolnshire, Illinois)
It is intentional that we never quite know what the deepcoiler is or was, thus the mystery and horror is more intense.
14. Do you plan on writing another adventure with Martin the Warrior in it? Like maybe writing about his last battle before he hung up his sword?
(Connor Radkey, Spokane, Washington)
I have no plans for further adventures of Martin the Warrior at present, but maybe!!
15. When will the CD Rom tour of Redwall Abbey be available? And what will it be like?
(Alisa Visalli, Philadelphia, PA)
The C.D. Rom tour of Redwall is in the planning stage but is awaiting characterisations from the projected T.V. series/ Movie so that they will tie in. News on the Movie etc. is imminent. Watch this space!
16. Will you ever write a book about Loamhedge?
(Kian Maleki, Orange, California)
Not at present although Loamhedge might play a part in a future story.
17. In the end of "Martin the Warrior" you wrote that many of the Rambling Rosehip Players decided to live in Noonvale. But what about the escaped Marshank slaves??? I'm curious about Keyla and Tullgrew's fates.
(Leo Filipczak, Cornucopia, Wisconsin)
It was inferred and I hoped that they also decided to settle in Noonvale but maybe there is room for yet another tale there?
18. Do you think that you might make a video game for Redwall? If not, do you think you might come up with a board game or card game?
(Michael Gallimore, Riverview, Florida)
Definitely not. I really dislike such things!
19. I know you have written short story books before, but are you ever going to do a short story book for Redwall? It would probably be a great sucsess.
(Ben Tarnoff, Washington DC)
I have thought of a series of short stories linked to recipes and I may start work on this next year, thus I will kill two birds with one stone.
20. Do the animals in your stories walk on all fours or, do they walk erect?
(Scott Sweeney, Salt Lake City, Utah)
The creatures in my stories are as big or small as your imagination wants them to be. My imagination does not see them on all fours.
21. You have really great stories. Do you figure out the basic plot before you start writing, or do you just let the story go the way it wants to, and see where it ends up?
(Erin Dilbaitis, Springfield, Illinois)
I always have a very good central idea and a fairly good idea of what the ending will be, but the rest flows out as if someone takes over my fingers and mind, I never quite know what adventures will develop.
22. I really enjoyed "Mossflower" with Gonff the mousethief, Lady Amber, Abbess Germaine, Bella of Brockhall, Martin the Warrior, and Trubbs and co. Are you going to write a book about them, as the first inhabitants of Redwall?
(Brian Humphries, Oakbank, Manitoba)
I haven't any plans for this at the moment but who knows what may come in the future?
23. Quite some time ago, I was sent a letter from you, along with a Random House/Red Fox "My Favorite Author" poster. On the poster it says that your favorite smells are cinnamon and "dolly mixtures". What in the world is a dolly mixture?
(Ainsley Seago, Tacoma, Washington)
Dolly mixtures are very small pastel coloured sweets or candies as you would call them, they are soft and smell and taste of sweetness and vanilla, a real childhood thing for me.
24. Why do you make mice, squirrels, otters and badgers "good" and foxes, rats, ferrets and such "bad"? How do you decide which are good and which are bad?
(Donna Wilson, Seattle, Washington)
The bad creatures are those which are traditionally bad in European folk lore and have come to be regarded as sly or mean or evil.The good creatures are mostly small and defenceless, with the exception of the badgers.
25. Mr. Jacques, I was wondering how you come up with all the wonderful riddles in your books, do you sit down and come up with them, or do other people help you, such as your wife or friends?
(Pip Andresen, Birmingham, Alabama)
I write all my own riddles and poems and songs, they are a particular favourite of mine. I love to play with words and one of my spare time hobbies (when I get any spare time) is word games and crossword puzzles.
26. Why do the Redwall creatures eat fish, but do not eat any other animals?
(Kevin and Issac Frank, Arcata, California)
I decided to have a fish as Matthias' first triumph in Redwall and then I just continued the tradition. No deep meaning I just did!
27. Have you considered authorizing stuffed animal toys of Redwall characters? I love badgers, but cannot find any stuffed toys of them! My nieces and I love to play with other stuffed toys and imagine that they are the characters from Redwall!
(Eleanor Kohnen, San Jose, California)
On my recent visit to Los Angeles I was in conversation with quite some few toy making firms who are keen to make Redwall figures of all kinds, the style of them will depend on the animation style of the Movie/T.V. series which I will have more news about next year.
28. We've learned that many of the characters in Redwall are based off the demeanors and dialects of different people you've met in your real life adventures. Were the Sparras inspired by anyone in particular?
(Sarah McFalls, Manchester, Maryland)
The Sparras were actually based on my observation of real sparrows in my garden as I was working. My but they are argumentative and territorial, they made me laugh so much, so fierce and brave but so tiny, and I have seen them all over the world just the same tough little bodies as here in my English garden.
29. Sir, I truly enjoy your books and look forward to each new addition to my collection! I was wondering if you had any plans for a Who's who/Atlas of Redwall? Maybe filled with brief biographical pieces on all the characters and places in the stories, with maps and information not found in the novels such as maybe a brief annotated history of Mossflower etc. I think it would be a wonderful addition, as well as a great place to showcase the art of Redwall!! Just wondering!!!
(Jason Bollman, St. Louis, Missouri)
Thank you I am glad to hear that you love my books, but if I am to continue to write more Redwall tales I have no time for other projects. A companion to the series has been suggested by my publishers, but if I keep writing it would need constant updating!!
30. A friend loaned me the tapes of Redwall and Mossflower. I've asked at the local bookstore and they can't find them listed anywhere. Are they still available, and if so where?
(Tia Leschke, Sooke, British Columbia)
Contact Random House Canada at
33 YONGE STREET
SUITE 210
TORONTO
ONTARIO
M5E 1G4
A very nice lady called Sharon Klein will tell you where to get them.
31. I recently looked up 'Cluny' in the American Heritage Dictionary, and discovered that it is a town in east central France. It features an Abbey founded in 910 AD, the home of an influential religious order (!). Is this where you got Cluny's name? It's pretty ironic.
(Jennifer Burdoo, Manhattan, Kansas)
I thought Cluny sounded a little like Looney and as he is a mad type that seemed to suit him. It wasn't until some time later that I found out about the Abbey in France. It did seem a little spooky to me too!
32. Were did you come with the names Mathias, Martin, Constance, Gonff, Tsarmina, Gingivere, and Verdauga in your books Redwall and Mossflower?
(Matthew Sinkey, Aurora, Colorado)
Matthias and Martin are strong masculine names and of Biblical origin. Constance says what it means and describes her well.Gingevere I made up, he is a ginger cat. Tsarmina is a play on words , the female rulers of Russia were called Tsarinas. I put mean in there and so Tsarmina. Verdauga is from the Latin verd...green and auga..eye. Lord Greeneye.
33. I've always wondered how Bryony and Dandin are related. They are both mentioned as the Great-grandchild of Gonff. They can't be siblings--they don't live in the same time period. Are they distant cousins maybe?
(Jonathan Calkins, Jacksonville, Florida)
Bryony and Dandin are very distantly related.
34. I've read in the area about previous professions of yours that you did charity work for the blind and that's why your books are so descriptive. I was wondering if you still volunteered for the blind?
(Simon Helton, Eugene, Oregon)
Yes I still work with my local school for the Blind, The Royal School in Liverpool, in fact my christmas appeal this year has just topped £10,000.
35. I have just started your books. I have read Redwall and am now working on Mattimeo.At the beginning of Redwall thereis the "riderless horsecart" and now in Mattimeo there is mention of a ship that sank. Are there humans somewhere inthe realm of Redwall? PS - I am a 32 year old SFC in the US Army but love these books!
(Joseph Weber, Lincoln, Nebraska)
No, there are no humans, my first book Redwall did mention the horse and cart but no humans are ever in the stories and I don't intend that they should ever be. The ships are generally crewed by vermin.
36. Out of all the books you've written, which is your personal favourite?
(Robbie Gibson, Castlemaine, Victoria, Australia)
I have no favourite, they are all like my children special in different ways.
37. What was your favorite book as a child and how did it influence your writing?
(Pete Bosch, Grand Rapids, Michigan)
I think you will find the answer to this on the Brian Jacques pages.
38. I have read many of your books. And my mouth waters when it's time for a feast! Have you ever attempted to prepare some of Redwall's plates, like strawberry cordial, oatrose turnovers, shrimp and hotroot soup, etc.? How did you come up with the recipes?
(Anna Santos, Durham, North Carolina)
Many of the recipes have been tried and found to be delicious, there is a booklet of recipes available to Redwall Readers club members.
39. Mr.Jacques my class has just completed an author study and I understand that your books are so descriptive because they were writen for blind people.What the group that studied you didn't say was how or why you became involved for writing for the blind. Could you tell me?
(Amanda Nadeau, Coventry, Rhode Island)
The children of The Royal School for the Blind here in Liverpool are my special friends. I have been involved with fund raising and support for them for many many years. I first met them when I used to deliver milk to the school as a truck driver. When I later became a writer I decided to write a story to read to them..... so Redwall was born.
40. I was wondering, how many languages have Redwall books been published in?
(Thomas Skinner, North Vancouver, British Columbia)
Italian, German, Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, Polish, Dutch, Russian and Japanese (coming next year.)
41. Some of the bad guys' names are reasonably obvious (Redtooth, Darkckaw, Bladetail), but how do you come up with the other names, like Romsca, Ferahgo, Slagar, Ublaz, and Lask Frildur?
(Sara Doherty, Lansing, Michigan)
I spend a long time thinking of names that sound bad or mean. I play with words and shuffle them until something feels right. Hard sounds like k and g and x and z often do the trick.
42. Will you ever have any really good vermin or bad woodlanders in any of your stories?
(Peter Johnson, Pennsylvania)
No! The goodies are good and the baddies are BAD, no grey areas.
43. In Martin the Warrior, Martin and co. see a rock formation called The Otter and His Wife. Does this have any significant place in the history of Mossflower? Who made it?
(Tiffany Tran, New Cumberland, Pennsylvania)
This is a tale for another book perhaps!!
44. I was wondering, was the character Simeon from Mariel of Redwall based on anybody you met during your work with the blind?
(Criss Richards, Macclesfield, Cheshire)
Not anyone specific, just a general observation.
45. Why did you choose so many names that start with an "M" for you characters? (Martin, Matthias, Mattimeo, Mother Mellus, Mariel, Mara, Methuselah, Brother Mordalfus, Abbot Mortimer, Abbess Merriam)
(Lis Meyer, Goldsboro, North Carolina)
This was unconscious. I didn't do it on purpose. It just came out that way.
46. About how long does it take you to write a book in the Redwall Series?
(Mary Ottinger, St. Pete Beach, Florida)
Four to five months usually.
47. Mr. Jacques, I know that your characters are based on people you know, but where did some of your stranger accents, such as the Gawtrybe Squirrels in "Martin the Warrior" and the Flitchaye in "Mariel of Redwall", come from?
(Justin Sowa, Easton, Massachusetts)
I just made them sound a little wild and nutty, from my imagination is really the answer.
48. I know that you use Hellgates and Dark Forest instead of Hell and Heaven. I guess Hellgates is an appropriate replacement, but I think Dark Forest sounds like something bad! Is Dark Forest a replacement for Heaven at all?
(Kian Maleki, Orange, California)
I try not to have any religious connotations at all, therefore no comparisons are intended. I have creatures die and to my mind they go on but who knows where? Dark forest is meant to be mysterious rather than menacing.
49. Where do you come up with all the places of the land of Redwall. Is the Redwall Abbey, Salamandastron, Noonvale, Kotir, etc.based on any real places in Europe or other parts of the world? Also, is their origin or battles based on historical events?
(Ryan Curtiss, Stoughton, Wisconsin)
The geography of my Redwall world is roughly the British Isles, but the battles are all my own!
50. What will the Redwall CD be like?
(Josh Luxenberg, Baltimore, Maryland)
It will be a concordance of the world of Redwall, with users able to visit places in the tales and access information about characters storylines etc. I will be doing a commentary and a potted history of me too! There will be no 'Game' element to it although we hope that we can incorporate Quiz and riddle elements as they are almost always part of the stories.This will not be available until the Film/T.V. series is up and running because of the tie in with artwork which will be necessary. Estimates now are Spring 1998.
