Kristin Cashore talks about "Bitterblue" with librarians Deirdre, from Mount Kisco, and Mary, from Armonk. The discussion covers:
1. Why Kristin wanted to revisit the character of Bitterblue, and whether she will write more books set in the Seven Kingdoms. She hopes to revisit the world of Bitterblue in future, and may write a book featuring a character not only without superpowers, but also without wealth and influence.
2. The character of Leck, and the necessity, and extreme difficulty, of writing from his point of view.
3. Kristin was "oddly pleased" to know that we think Leck would have no trouble at all killing Voldemort. Although Charlie X, from Star Treck, might give him more of a run for his money.
4. Kristin is reading and rereading many books, including "Code Name Verity," by Elizabeth Wein, "Breadcrumbs," by Anne Ursu, and "Rebecca," by Daphne Dumaurier.
5. Kristin elaborates on the codes she invents for Bitterblue. She discusses the tradition of fine needlework in her family, and her admiration for the novel "A Piece of Justice," by Jill Paton Walsh. WARNING. This chapter contains some spoilers.
6. Kristin tends to name minor characters after locales on road signs. However, other characters are named for a salient characteristic. Thiel was named after a character in a novel by Cynthia Voight.
7. The name Thiel is somewhat reminiscent of Thule, and so seems to connote loss, cold, lost love. But the resemblance is quite accidental.
8. Death, on the other hand, is a direct tribute to Dorothy Sayers and her sleuth, Lord Peter Wimsey.
9. Kristin studied PSTD and cults for her writing. She also researched the recent history of Rwanda.
10. When writing the romance in the book, she did not have a definite plan. She lets her writing take the direction it wants to take. However, she did have some idea, even at the beginning, who would end up with whom. WARNING SPOILERS in this chapter!
11. We talk about the many lies which the book contains, and the multilayered societies Bitterblue discovers around her, including a criminal element that touches her directly.
12. Kristin reveals how her study of the flying trapeze helped her write "Bitterblue."
13. We discuss Thiel, both the difficulty of his situation and the difficulty of writing about it.
14. Kristin advises those who wish to be creative to follow their hearts. She also says that self-doubt is a necessary part of the creative process, but should not become a discouragement.
We would like to thank Kristin very much for talking to us.
We would also like to thank:
MUSIC: The Illiad, for our opening song, Cursor Miner, for our closing song, and Sebastian Jakobi for his rendition of the Koening in Thule.
ART: Ian Schoenherr, for the art gracing chapters 2,5,6,8,9,11 and 13 of this podcast.
Cover images are from Dial Books, Hyperion Books, and Carlsen Verlag.
The image used for Chapter 7 is a detail from a 1930 icelandic coin depicting the King of Thule.
The picture of Kristin on the flying trapeze is taken from her blog.
The portrait of Kristin which illustrates the episode is by Leaslie Feagley.
We hope you have enjoyed this podcast. Thank you for listening.
