Archive for April, 2009

Daine/Numair and Reactions

I was recently re-reading the Daine series and I have a concern to ask you about.  After you decided to pair up Daine and Numair, did you ever get anyone expressing doubt about it.  I mean, about the fact that a 30 year old man was in love with his 16 year old student?
Tammy: Occasionally [...]

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How Neal and Yuki Fell in Love

I assumed that they got together or Neal started massively crushing as opposed to just crushing on her that night of the mages’ party, but what happened in between then and Neal’s Ordeal?
Tammy: They’d just run into each other here and there, have a dance at an occasional event, sit together when they were hanging [...]

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Daine’s half-siblings?

Whoa. WHOA. None of his previous grandchildren? So implying he’s had grandchildren before? Implying that he’s has other children? Implying that Daine has half-siblings?
Tammy: On occasion.  Depending.  The births are kinda hard on the mothers.
So was it not uncommon for Weiryn to crossover the realms on Beltane to meet woman and perhaps bed them? Does he [...]

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Neal/Yuki, Lady Knights, Queenscove’s healers, and Irnai

At the end of Lady Knight Irnai mentions that Neal will have a daughter that tries for knighthood (if I remember correctly). What’s her name? Do Neal and Yuki have any other kids? What do they end up doing? Do they have the Gift?
Tammy: Actually, I don’t know.  This is in the future of the last book [...]

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Details about Maura’s book and Heroes

I just really, really, really wanted to ask if they’re anything you can tell us about the Maura of Dunlath book that you haven’t already shared? I’m insanely excited for them, I’ve become a real fangirl of Maura.

Tammy: Well, it begins when she’s 15, and her guardian, Sir Douglass, breaks the dreadful news to her [...]

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Gary of Naxen’s Offspring

Also, I’m still interested in Gary of Naxen’s offspring.
Tammy: They have two boys and two girls.  Sir Gilmyn is married to Dolsa of Rosemark.  Zenoby, the next oldest, is married to Beltair haMinch.  Jaquetta, the youngest girl, is a Daughter of the Goddess in Port Legann.  And Geoffrey, in the King’s Own, likes his single [...]

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Slavery and the Balitangs

It seems rather unfair (and not particularly conducive to political harmony) for those slaves who rebelled to be free, but those who didn’t to remain slaves. At the same time, abolishing slavery would cripple the Isles’ economy.
Tammy: Oh, no, Dove’s freeing the slaves, and even just the ones who rebelled, would give birth to another [...]

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Yuki, Birthing, Sarralyn, and Conte princes

Is Yuki Gifted? (Honestly, this has bothered me since a re-read of Squire.)
Tammy: I don’t believe so, or if she is, it’s a minor Gift.
A question about the birthing practices and customs in Tortall: Are men barred from the birth chamber like they typically were in the real world? (Essentially: are they left outside to [...]

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Fief Queenscove and its House

Information on Fief Queenscove, its house, members, history, timeline, etc.

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King Roger II and his Wives

What happened to King Roger’s first Queen (Alysy), exactly?
Tammy: She had breast cancer.  Cancer is one of those things that, if it gets far enough along, all the healers can do is make the patient comfortable.  It has an energy of its own.  And she was a bit of a depressive who hid the fact [...]

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Fief Conté and its House

Information on Fief Conté, its house, members, history, timeline, etc.

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Fief Cavall and its House

Information on Fief Cavall, its house, members, history, timeline, etc.

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Royal University, Archaeology, Neal’s Family, and Carthak

If you had to write up a NPOV review on the Royal University of Tortall for prospective students, what aspects would stand out?
Tammy:

Mage instruction features instructors who graduated with honors from the University at Carthak and the City of the Gods.
Musical instruction includes lessons for traveling musicians, court musicians, noble musicians, and young ladies seeking [...]

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Names: Suffixes

In your books, Daine and Kora and several others have names that end in sri/sra. How do those suffixes work?

Tammy: If you have “sri” after your name, it means the only parent you’re sure of is your mother–in other words, you were born out of wedlock, which some cultures consider a mark of shame [...]

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“Bright Star” Joren, New Hope, Baron Sir Cleon, Roald’s Champion, and Covers

Was Joren the heir to Stone Mountain? Lord Burchard is his uncle, yet he was the one to go after Kel in Squire when Joren died.

Tammy: Someone else mentioned Burchard is indeed Joren’s father. I apologize for the confustication in the scene.
And yes, Joren was the heir, their bright star. There are other [...]

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Lord Wyldon, Owen/Margarry, and Maren

How many children does [Lord Wyldon] have (boys/girls?)? Siblings? I bet he has a totally hardcore sister that used to boss him around…

Tammy: Actually, his sister Elasabenne was the baby of the family, and her brothers doted on her. It’s amazing anyone got close enough to marry her. She wasn’t sure Lady Vivienne [...]

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Security, Varice, and Maps

Were there any consequences for the folks who smuggled the darkings to Aly, even if it was just a stern talking-to or a “For Mithros’ sake don’t do it again!”? Giving the kind of surveillance magic(/technology, to continue the real-world analogy) that would make the CIA or even Mossad (whose tech makes the CIA [...]

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Aly/Dove Books, Nawat’s Discovery, and Maura

Tammy: I certainly plan for other Aly/Dove books, now that I’ve recovered from my first go-round with Aly, and certainly the Darkings and Nawat will appear.  There are still the outer islands to be pacified, and Dove’s choice of a consort to be considered.  Nawat also makes a discovery about one of his children that [...]

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Prime Minister’s Duties

I recently found myself wondering about Gary. What kinds of duties is he responsible for as the Prime Minister?

Tammy: Gary sits as governor (chair) of the Council of Nobles, the Grand Council (the combined Councils) and of the King’s (private) Council.  He reviews laws and issues currently under discussion by the Nobles and in the [...]

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Aly, Alan, Thom, and the Royal Heirs

Will we get to see more of the children, specifically Alan and Thom?
Tammy: I have no idea! I’m fixed in the past at the moment–the first chance I would have even to see them again is in Maura of Dunlath’s book, which I don’t have to worry about for several years yet.
Knowing that George [...]

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