      
      
      
An Interview
With
Juliet Waldron
ER!-This is
a test. You must start now. Pick up your #2
pencil and fill in the blanks as quickly as possible!
On your mark. Get set...
Just kidding! Of course, this isn't a test.
It is an experiment, however, so see how much I can get
authors to tell me about themselves!<g>
Thank you so much, Juliet, for letting me interview
you. You're very brave<bg>
First of all, congratualtions on finaling in the
Frankfurt Award. According to the reviews, and what I
have read so far, Mozart's Wife is a magnificent
book. It's fiction, but is woven around fact.
It's the story of, as the title states, Mozart's wife,
Konstanze. Can you tell us a little more of what
it's about and what compelled you to write this book?
JW-This
was more of an obsession than a book. Mozart and his
family moved into my head and stayed there for a
decade--which is a long stay for any houseguest!
<g> After wading through a ton of biographies,
I went to primary sources, first among these, the
Mozart Family letters, translated by Emily Anderson.
Was seeking for the unvarnished truth about this
darkly fascinating husband/wife relationship.
ER!-I
assume that Mozart's Wife must've taken quite a bit of
research? How long did you work on this story
research-wise?
JW-A
very long time--decade--as above. For a story like
this, however, reading was not sufficient. I've
acquired a huge collection of Mozart--music and
operas--as well as a ton of information on (and
created during) the late 18th Century. You have to
drown yourself in period if you want to get it right.
ER!-Was
this a subject that always interested you?
JW-He
camped in my head after I went to see AMADEUS--freely
confessed. I was so enthralled by the movie, that I
simply had to dig out the REAL STORY--and every
single detail! AMADEUS, BTW, was fantastic on the
feel and look of the time/place--even the faces of
the actors connect with those of the originals--but
it not so good on the actual "facts,
Ma'am."
ER!-What
are you currently working on?
JW-Late
medieval, Wars of Roses. Again, woman's pov, and not
a noblewoman, either, a devoted, long time servant
whose destiny is fatally linked with that of her
master and mistress. It's a rags to riches to rags
big fat historical with a killer <g> romantic
thread.
ER!-Is
there a book out there that you're just dying to write
but for some reason haven't?
JW-Have
started, any number of times, a gigantic s/f novel,
my own personal philosophical take on "Life, the
Universe, and everything." <g> Some day
I'll get out of the past and into the future!
ER!-What
would you say has been your biggest challenge in writing
Mozart's Wife?
JW-Not
being an academic. I think this book would have been
print pubbed years ago if I'd had a title behind my
name--even though self-taught is supposed to be a big
American tradition.
ER!-Many
writers have written since they were young. They were
daydreamers. Avid readers. What about you? Has your
passion to write always been there?
JW-Yes,
but I started out writing poetry. I think most
writers develop some sort of saga as children. Entire
kingdoms and dynasties rose and fell in my mind with
some regularity.
ER!-Is
there anything out there that you'd like to do, but
haven't yet been given the opportunity?
JW-Granddaughters.
(Bring me more! Bring me more! Little ones are
amazing to watch.) The rest is gardening, lots of
demanding cats who all imagine they are gods
incarnate, piles of history books, and all
kinds of music.
ER!-Many
readers wonder what's going on in an author's head, and
here's the part where we find out<g>.
Describe yourself in one line:
JW-Obsessive
fantasizer.
ER!-(Finish
this sentence) On a Saturday night you'll find me...
JW-Asleep.
ER!-If I
were a cartoon character I'd be...
JW-"Thing
from Another World" (Marvin the Martian)
ER!-If I
could have one wish, I would wish...
JW-For
Reason to Prevail!
ER!-What
kind of car do you drive?
JW---A
wonderful Passat wagon (VW)
ER!-What
kind of car do you *want* to drive?
JW---A
brand new Passat wagon--they are truly cool.
ER!-Answer
the following questions as quickly as possible, but feel
free to expand on any of your answers (Hey, it's not a
test).
What's your favorite movie?
JW-At
the moment, "Fight Club." Can't stop going
over it.
ER!-Favorite
song?
JW-"A
Thousand Years" --Sting (today) Lucky you
caught me out of the period when I would have said,
"Canzonetta su l'aria," the blissed out
letter duet from The "Marriage of Figaro."
ER!-Favorite
snack?
JW-Apples
in season--especially the old fashioned, home orchard
kind. Otherwise, hey, peppermint patties.
ER!-Favorite
book?
JW-The
Once & Future King by T.H. White is the best book
ever written--hands down.
ER!-Typewriter
or computer?
JW-I
started on typewriter, but after years of hitting
those keys as a secretary, I adore my
computers--still have a Wang PC tucked in the
closet--can't let poor, faithful Mr. Green Screen go
to his death.
ER!-Soup or
salad?
JW-Soup.
ER!-Pre-planner
or blind leap?
JW-Blind
leap.
ER!-Turkey
burger or steak?
JW-Steak--although
I do remember to say thank-you to the critter who
made the sacrifice.
ER!-Slacks
or jeans?
JW-Jeans.
ER!-Boxers
or briefs?
JW-Briefs--hey!
ER!-Are
blondes really more fun?
JW-Nah.
ER!-Have
you ever held anyone hostage?
JW-No.
ER!-Do you
believe in love at first sight?
JW-Yes.
Married him.
ER!-Are
aliens real?
JW-The
Truth is Out There! <g>
ER!-If you
could vote members off of Gilligan's Island, who would
get the boot first?
JW-All
of 'em. Then I'd stay there all by myself.
ER!-If
Godzilla and Superman got into a street fight (no weapons
allowed), who would win?
JW-Hard
to say, for their powers seem evenly matched.
However, upon due consideration, <g> Probably
Superman, in the long run, 'cause speed counts,
though, I have to say, I think I'd be rooting for
Godzilla.
ER!-What is
one thing about you that very few know?
JW-That
I played Hippolyte the Amazon--a teeny part--but I
loved it--in "A Midsummer's Night's Dream"
when I was in High School.
ER!-And
finally (and you can take your time on this one:-)),
what's next for you? Your next book? Writing venture?
Goal?
JW-I've
got a few more stories I'd hope to tell--set in the
past, future--and even--(gasp!)--at least one
contemporary, now editing. There are stories I need
to tell my granddaughters, too, but not the world.
As a dream/goal, I hope we "cyber writers"
sell enough books to show the Powers That Be
"woman's fiction" is a pretty big and
tolerant church, and not--in real life--sectioned
into narrow, inflexible categories. Women are smarter
than that. They get tired of reading the same thing.
We think, write, and read for ourselves, not inside
the box some marketing genius wants to put around us.
Remember
to visit Juliet's Website!
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