Charles Todd Interview Pt. II
11/26/01
http://www.charlestodd.com/

1) So a few things have changed since the last time we did this. Book number five has just come out. And we know that Charles Todd is in fact two people. So I guess the first question I have is, How did the idea to collaborate on the books come about?

WITH GREAT HILARITY. CHARLES--SERIOUSLY, I THOUGHT CAROLINE WAS JOKING AND I GAVE HER A SERIES OF OFF THE WALL TITLES THAT WE COULD PLAY AROUND WITH. THEN I PROMPTLY FORGOT ABOUT IT UNTIL I WAS STUCK IN A HOTEL ROOM WITH NOTHING TO DO BUT WATCH RERUNS ON TV, AND IT SEEMED LIKE SOMETHING WE OUGHT TO EXPLORE.
CAROLINE: I KNEW ALL ALONG THAT WE WERE GOING TO DO IT, BUT I HAD TO WAIT UNTIL HE STOPPED LAUGHING.

2) I have to say that seeing the two of you together at the nomination ceremony for the Anthony awards kind of choked me up a little. Is it fun to do these things together?

IT REALLY IS. CAROLINE HAS HER FANS, I HAVE MINE, AND WE ARE OFTEN OFF DOING SEPARATE MEETINGS OR BREAKFASTS OR WHATEVER. THE THING IS WE DON'T LIVE TOGETHER, SO WHEN WE DO HAVE A CHANCE TO VISIT LIKE THIS, IT'S NICE. MY DAD PUTS UP WITH THE TWO OF US, BUT I THINK HE THINKS WE'RE BOTH CRAZY. TAKING AFTER CAROLINE'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY TREE, OF COURSE. BUT HE WORKS WITH US, DRIVING THE CARS IN ENGLAND AND TAKING A LOT OF PHOTOGRAPHS WHILE WE DO RESEARCH. HE'S A SCIENTIST, BUT ENJOYS READING MYSTERIES TOO.

3) Are there advantages to working together with family?

YES. WE PRETTY MUCH KNOW EACH OTHER'S LIMITS AND THAT MAKES IT EASIER. ALSO THERE'S NO SENSE OF COMPETITION. WE BOTH CARE ABOUT RUTLEDGE, AND HIS NEEDS ARE PARAMOUNT. AFTER FIVE BOOKS, HE'S MORE REAL THAN EVER, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKES THE WHOLE THING WORK--WE'RE MORE INTERESTED IN HIM THAN OURSELVES.

4) So far all the books see Rutledge being sent to small towns to investigate crimes. At some point will we get to see him do his thing in London?

CHARLES--HE WILL OCCASIONALLY DO SOMETHING IN LONDON, BUT IN 1919 LONDON WAS BECOMING MORE COSMOPOLITAN, MOVING ON TOWARDS THE 'TWENTIES. AND THAT'S A DIFFERENT BALL GAME. WE AREN'T PARTICULARLY INTERESTED YET IN GETTING AHEAD OF OURSELVES. AND IN THE CLOSED ROOM ATMOSPHERE OF A
VILLAGE, WE SEE MORE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL INTERACTION THAT MAKES THE CHARACTERS WORK SO WELL.

CAROLINE--A VILLAGE ISN'T A VILLAGE ISN'T A VILLAGE. EACH ONE IS SO DIFFERENT BECAUSE OF ITS HISTORY AND ITS SETTING AND ITS INDIVIDUAL DEVELOPMENT. THERE'S MORE VARIETY IN WRITING ABOUT OTHER PARTS OF ENGLAND THAN IN STICKING WITH LONDON. ECONOMIC STATUS DIVIDES LONDON'S POPULATION, BUT OTHER THINGS INFLUENCE A VILLAGER'S PLACE IN THE SCHEME OF ITS STORY.

5) At Bouchercon you told me about taking a family trip to England and doing research. Could you talk a little about that? It sounds wonderful.

CHARLES --IT WAS WILD. WE HAD NINE DAYS BECAUSE I WORK FOR A LIVING AND AM ALWAYS TRYING TO SAVE VACATION TIME FOR CONVENTIONS LIKE MALICE AND BOUCHERCON. WE BEGAN WITH METICULOUS PLANNING, KNOWING WHAT WE WANTED TO DO WHERE AND FOR HOW LONG. WE GOT TO HEATHROW, AND ONLY CAROLINE'S SUITCASE HAD ARRIVED WITH US. DAD NEVER GOT HIS AND ROUGHED IT FOR 9 DAYS. WE WERE SO TIRED WE SET OUT THE WRONG WAY ON THE M OUTSIDE HEATHROW, AND IT WAS TWO EXITS BEFORE WE CAUGHT ON. I GOT OUT MY TRUSTY GPS AND STARTING PLOTTING THE WAY TO KENT, AND WE USED THAT SYSTEM THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP. WHAT WE SAW IN KENT TURNED INTO THE NEXT BOOK AFTER WATCHERS OF TIME--A FEARSOME DOUBT. WE HAD GREAT DINNERS IN SMALL COUNTRY HOTELS
(CAROLINE--THE ENGLISH DO KNOW HOW TO COOK!)

BUT WE PICKED UP MEAT PIES AND CIDER AND BREAD AND CHEESE FOR LUNCH, OR ATE IN A PUB. IN BETWEEN WE WERE CONCENTRATING ON ALL THE THINGS WE HAD TO PHOTOGRAPH. WE HAD A FLAT TIRE OUT IN NORFOLK ON THE NARROWEST OF ROADS, AND THE ONLY SAFE AREA TO CHANGE IT WAS IN A MUD PUDDLE. WE GOT TO THE TOWN THAT WAS TO BECOME OSTERLEY, AND WERE FASCINATED BY THE GREAT CHURCH THERE. IT CAME INTO THE STORY AT THAT POINT. WE TASTED SOME ITALIAN PLUM COGNAC IN COLCHESTER, AND IT GAVE A WHOLE NEW MEANING TO JET-LAG. MY DAD'S SUITCASE REACHED US IN ETON, THE NIGHT BEFORE WE FLEW OUT. HE LOOKED GREAT AT DINNER, THE ONLY ONE WITH STILL-PRESSED CLOTHES. BUT OUT OF THAT SHORT TRIP, WE REVISITED SOME OLD AND WELL-LOVED SIGHTS, CLIMBED TINTAGEL AGAIN, FOUND SOME NEW IDEAS AND INTERESTING PLACES FOR LATER BOOKS, AND WE WORKED ON WATCHERS AND A FEARSOME DOUBT. 36 ROLLS OF FILM LATER--

6) Hamish MacLeod. He’s kind of a partner, kind of a conscience. Where did this idea come from, and exactly how does Hamish fit in to the books?

WE WERE INTERESTED IN USING THE GREAT WAR AS A BACKDROP TO THE STORY, AND LOOKING FOR WAYS TO INDICATE THAT RUTLEDGE HAD BEEN A SERVING OFFICER AND HOW THE WAR HAD AFFECTED HIM PERSONALLY. SUDDENLY WE REALIZED THAT WE WERE LOOKING AT A MAN WHO HAD ALREADY ADDRESSED THAT PROBLEM IN HIS OWN FASHION. HAMISH WAS HIS CREATION, NOT OURS. AND IT SEEMED TO BE FAR MORE REALISTIC THAN ANY SUPERIMPOSED IDEA ON OUR PART. HE'S THERE IN THE BOOKS AS RUTLEDGE'S CONSCIENCE, HIS WAR WOUND. HERE'S A MAN WHO ONCE HUNTED MURDERERS--AND NOW HE CONSIDERS HIMSELF ONE. IT ADDS COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING AND A FAR MORE PERSONAL VIEW OF THE CASES HE INVESTIGATES. HE'S NOT ARROGANT AND HE'S NOT SET APART FROM THE PEOPLE HE HAS TO QUESTION. HE REALIZES THAT HE'S AS HUMAN AND VULNERABLE AS THEY ARE.

7) The books cover are really stunning. Do you get input on them?

NO, BUT THEY SHOW US THE FINAL DESIGN FOR ANY COMMENTS. BOTH OF MY EDITORS HAVE HAD THE ESSENCE OF THE BOOKS IN MIND. NOW THEY WANT TO CHANGE THE STYLE OF THE JACKET ART A LITTLE. THE BOOKS ARE ENJOYING SUCH A WIDESPREAD READERSHIP THAT THE FEELING IS IT SHOULD REACH EVEN MORE PEOPLE, SOME OF WHOM MIGHT NEVER PICK UP AN HISTORICAL COVER. I CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT THEY COME UP WITH. KNOWING BANTAM, IT WILL BE IN GREAT TASTE.

8) Is reading something you’ve shared as a family? Are you both mystery fans?

MY PARENTS CAME FROM FAMILIES THAT READ ALL KINDS OF BOOKS, BIOGRAPHY, HISTORY, LITERATURE, POETRY--YOU NAME IT. THEY ALSO LIKED MYSTERIES. I CAN REMEMBER CAROLINE READING ALOUD SHERLOCK HOLMES AND THE GOLD BUG AND OTHER STORIES WHEN I WAS VERY YOUNG. WE LIKE SUSPENSE FILMS, WE WATCH MYSTERIES ON TV, WE READ MORE THAN WE REALLY HAVE TIME FOR, AND WE HAVE OUR FAVORITES. BUT THE IMPORTANT THING IS THAT WE WERE READ TO WHEN YOUNG, ALL OF US, AND IT HAD A LASTING EFFECT. IT'S A FAMILY LEGACY, AND SOMETHING TO PASS ON TO EVERY GENERATION.

9) Who are some of your favorite authors?

WHAT, YOU WANT TO GET US KILLED??
CAROLINE: I LIKE TONY HILLERMAN, DOROTHY DUNNETT, FREDERICK FORSYTH AND JACK HIGGINS. THAT'S A VARIED GROUP, BUT YOU CAN SEE THE INFLUENCES. WE READ OUR CONTEMPORARIES TOO. MARGARET MARON'S JUDGE DEBORAH KNOTT SERIES, NEVADA BARR'S NATIONAL PARKS TALES, IAN RANKIN, VAL MCDERMID, STEVE HAMILTON, ROBIN HATHAWAY, P.D. JAMES, ELENA SANTANGELO, S.J. ROSEN, PARNELL HALL, I COULD SIT HERE FOR HALF AN HOUR TALKING ABOUT THIS. THE EXCITING THING IS TO MEET THESE PEOPLE AT CONVENTIONS--TO REACH OUT AND TOUCH AUTHORS YOU ADMIRE. WE ALSO MAKE AN EFFORT TO TRY NEW WRITERS, BECAUSE YOU NEVER HAVE ENOUGH FAVORITES.

CHARLES: I DISCOVERED A LOT OF NEW WRITERS WHEN I DID THE
BEST FIRST NOVEL JUDGING. SPEAKING OF FAVORITES, PETER LOVESEY WAS AT BOUCHERCON, AND HE'S A GREAT GUY. I REMEMBER WATCHING HIS SERGEANT CRIBB SERIES ON MYSTERY. LITTLE DID I GUESS THAT I'D ACTUALLY WIND UP KNOWING HIM AS A PERSON. I'D SECOND CAROLINE'S LIST AND GIVE YOU ANOTHER HALF AN HOUR.

10) When you first started writing the first book, did you have any idea that it would be so wildly popular?

NO. WE WEREN'T EVEN GOING TO SEND IT IN TO AN AGENT. NOBODY WOULD BE INTERESTED, WE WERE SURE OF THAT. THEN WE DECIDED TO SEND IT TO RUTH CAVIN, JUST TO FIND OUT IF IT WAS REALLY A NOVEL--WE ONLY WANTED HER TO SAY SOMETHING LIKE, "I HAVE ENJOYED READING THIS MANUSCRIPT, BUT--" AND IT WOULD IN A WAY GIVE US A SENSE THAT WE HADN'T DONE TOO BADLY AFTER ALL. SORT OF THAT LAST FLOURISH BEFORE PUTTING THE BOOK AWAY AND LOOKING FOR SOMETHING ELSE TO WORK ON TOGETHER. I'D SEEN THIS NEAT VIDEO ON BUILDING YOUR OWN HELICOPTER.... BUT IT'S ALSO WHY WE JUST USED THE ONE NAME--DIDN'T MOST COLLABORATORS? LOOK AT EMMA LATHEN OR MAAN MEYERS. AND WE INTEND TO KEEP IT THAT WAY, ONE NAME. BEFORE YOU FEEL TOO SORRY FOR CAROLINE, REMEMBER THAT CHARLES AND CAROLINE HAVE THE SAME ROOT. I TOLD YOU SHE WAS CLEVER.

11) How would you describe Rutledge?

I DON'T THINK WE EVER HAVE. HE'S TALL, TO BEGIN WITH, THAT'S COME OUT. AND HE HAS DARK EYES, PROBABLY DARK HAIR. THE CELTIC BACKGROUND, WE THINK. HE HAS AN AQUILINE NOSE, LIKE ONE OF OUR ANCESTORS, AND HE HAS A COMPASSIONATE NATURE. AND WHEN HE SMILES AND IT TOUCHES HIS EYES, YOU SEE SOMETHING OTHER THAN THE THIN, HAUNTED EX-SOLDIER TRYING TO SURVIVE. A GLIMPSE INTO THE MAN WHO LIVED BEFORE THE WAR. EVERYONE TELLS US HE'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE MAN, AND EVEN SEXY. BUT THAT WASN'T WHAT WE WERE SETTING OUT TO WRITE. IT'S WHAT OTHERS SEE IN HIM. MORE IMPORTANTLY, HE CARES ABOUT PEOPLE AND IS INTERESTED IN THEM. HE CAN EMPATHIZE WHILE STANDING BACK TO JUDGE SOMEONE'S INVOLVEMENT IN A MURDER. HE'S ATTRACTED TO INTERESTING WOMEN, AND THAT COMES THROUGH SOMETIMES IN HIS RELATIONSHIPS WITH THEM. EACH ONE IN HER OWN WAY CONTRIBUTES TO THE HEALING PROCESS OF LOSING HIS JEAN. AND A GOOD SHOW THAT HE DID. SHE WOULDN'T HAVE MADE HIM HAPPY.

12) The publishing business being the way it is, most authors need to do at least some self promotion. Does the website help with this? What else do you do?

BUDGETS ARE ALWAYS TIGHT FOR PROMOTION, UNLESS YOU'VE ALREADY SOLD 40 MILLION COPIES. THEN THEY TRY FOR 41. THE PUBLISHER HAS ADS OUT THERE FOR THE SERIES, AND WE WERE IN THE SISTERS IN CRIME AUTHORS LIST IN PUBLISHERS WEEKLY THIS FALL. CONVENTIONS ARE ONE OF THE BEST WAY TO REACH READERS, BECAUSE IT'S SO PERSONAL. AND WE GET TO AS MANY AS POSSIBLE. WE TRY TO WORK WITH BOOKSTORES, BECAUSE THEY SUPPORT US AND WE SIGN BOXES OF BOOKS FOR THEM. THEY OFTEN HAND SELL US, AND WE APPRECIATE THAT MORE THAN WE CAN SAY. . WE ANSWER ALL THE MESSAGES FROM THE WEBSITE GUEST BOOK, AND IT'S INTERESTING TO SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY INTERNATIONAL READERS AS WELL AS AN AMERICAN CROSS SECTION. THE AGES OF READERS IS A CROSS SECTION TOO--WE HAVE EVERYONE FROM HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS TO PEOPLE IN THEIR EIGHTIES. WE DO INTERVIEWS WHEN ASKED, BECAUSE IT'S ANOTHER WAY OF REACHING PEOPLE. KEEPS US BUSY!

13) When you plot out the books, do you think it’s important to be fair with the reader and give them a chance to solve the mystery?

YOU HAVE TO BE FAIR TO THE READER. ALL THE CLUES ARE THERE, AND IT IS JUST A QUESTION OF HOW YOU PUT THEM TOGETHER AS TO WHETHER YOU FIGURE OUT THE MURDERER BEFORE THE AUTHOR DOES. A WRITER ISN'T TRYING TO SHOW HE'S (SHE'S) SUPERIOR TO EVERYONE ELSE, HE'S (SHE'S) OFFERING A CHALLENGE. CAN YOU SEE WHAT RUTLEDGE SEES? CAN YOU JUDGE PEOPLE THE WAY HE DOES? HOW DID YOU WORK OUT THE ENDING? ANYBODY WHO BUYS AND READS YOUR NOVEL DESERVES TO BE ENTERTAINED, NOT ANNOYED.

14) Is Rutledge going to age in the series? Are we someday going to see him in his late fifties investigating or consulting?

IF YOU HAVE NOTICED, THE BOOKS SO FAR HAVE COVERED NEARLY SIX MONTHS OF HIS LIFE AFTER LEAVING THE CLINIC. JUNE WAS TEST OF WILLS, JULY WINGS OF FIRE, ETC. WATCHERS BRINGS US TO OCTOBER. WE USED THIS SYSTEM RATHER THAN THE PASSAGE OF YEARS BECAUSE PART OF THE STORY IS HOW A MAN RECOVERS HIS EQUILIBRIUM, AND THE READER SEEMS TO WANT TO SHARE IN THAT EXPLORATION, NOT TO PICK UP THE NEXT NOVEL AND LEARN IT'S NOW 1923 OR WHATEVER, RUTLEDGE IS COMPLETELY HEALED AND GETTING MARRIED IN MAY. THAT WORKS WELL WITH MANY TYPES OF CHARACTERS, DON'T GET ME WRONG. BUT HERE WHAT IS HAPPENING WITHIN THIS MAN IS A GRADUAL PROCESS OF DISCOVERY.
ALL THE SAME, IF READERS WANT HIM TO GO ON, HE'S GOING TO BE THERE IN HIS LATE FIFTIES (LOOKING QUITE DISTINGUISHED WITH THAT GRAYING DARK HAIR) AND PROBABLY STILL BATTLING WITH HAMISH. WE'VE GOT NOVEMBER IN THE COMPUTER AND A GLIMMER OF AN IDEA FOR DECEMBER, SO HE'S GOING TO GET TO THE 1920'S BEFORE LONG.

15) Aside from the fact that I have to wait until next fall for the next book, what can you tell us about A Fearsome Doubt?

A FEARSOME DOUBT IS SOMETHING WE THOUGHT WOULD BE INTERESTING TO TRY. IT'S NOVEMBER, RUTLEDGE IS HAVING TROUBLES WITH THE ARMISTICE CELEBRATIONS THAT EVERYBODY IS TALKING ABOUT--IT HAS REVIVED TOO MANY OF HIS OWN MEMORIES OF THE WAR. HE DOESN'T SEE HIMSELF AS A HERO WELCOMED HOME, HE DOESN'T BELIEVE HE BELONGS WITH THE HONORABLY WOUNDED, AND HE'S GOT TOO MANY DEAD ON HIS OWN CONSCIENCE AFTER FOUR YEARS OF FIGHTING TO STAND AND LISTEN TO POLITICAL SPEECHES ABOUT THE MEANING OF DYING FOR ONE'S COUNTRY. AT THIS VERY DIFFICULT TIME HE'S THROWN INTO TWO INVESTIGATIONS--ONE FROM HIS PAST, PRE-WAR, PRE-HAMISH, AND ANOTHER PRESENT DAY ONE THAT INADVERTENTLY DRAGS HIM BACK INTO AN EXPERIENCE HE HAD WIPED OUT OF HIS MIND IN THE LAST DAY OF THE WAR. IT'S A CHALLENGE
TO WRITE! IF YOU CAN'T WAIT, PICK UP THE PAPERBACK OF WATCHERS, WHEN THAT COMES OUT, AND YOU'LL FIND A PREVIEW OF DOUBT.

16) The books seem to have a very wide appeal. I know people who read almost nothing but hard boiled who love them. The same is true of historical readers, cozy readers. And they also appeal to a wide age group. Why do you think that is?

AT FIRST WE WERE COMPLETELY UNPREPARED FOR THIS. WE EXPECTED TO REACH READERS WHO WANTED TO WALK THOUGH AN INTERESTING CASE WITH SOMEONE LIKE RUTLEDGE. INSTEAD THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE DRAWN TO THIS MAN. ROMANTIC TIMES HAS GIVEN US AN AWARD FOR SEARCH THE DARK, BEST HISTORICAL FOR THAT YEAR. VIET NAM VETS HAVE TOLD US THAT THEY SEE A LOT OF THEIR OWN SUFFERING IN RUTLEDGE'S. WE HEAR FROM READERS WHO WOULD NEVER DREAM OF GETTING HOOKED ON THIS GENRE TELLING US THAT THEY RUSHED OUT TO BUY THE ONLY RUTLEDGE SHORT STORY. SOMEONE FROM NEW YORK CITY TOLD US THAT THEY UNDERSTOOD THEIR OWN EMOTIONS IN THE AFTERMATH OF SEPT. 11 BECAUSE THE NOVELS HAD GIVEN THEM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS SYNDROME. DON'T GET ME WRONG--ALL THIS IS WONDERFUL! BUT IT IS AMAZING AS WELL. OUR GUESS WOULD BE THAT THERE'S A HUMAN QUALITY TO THE STORY AND TO THE CHARACTERS AND TO THE EMOTIONS OR FEARS THAT TEAR EVERYBODY APART. THAT MUST BE WHAT A READER FINDS FIRST AND STAYS WITH. HISTORY MAY NOT BE HIS OR HER THING, BUT CARING ABOUT THE PEOPLE IS, WHATEVER HIS OR HER FAVORITE GENRE. THAT'S WHAT WE LIKE BEST IN A BOOK OURSELVES, AND IT MUST BE SOMETHING THAT WE DO WELL FOR THAT REASON.

17) Any thoughts on doing kind of a flashback book, with a Rutledge on a case before the war?

NOT REALLY. WE GET INTO PRE-WAR IN SOME FASHION IN NEARLY EVERY NOVEL, SO THAT THERE'S A CONTRAST, BUT A FEARSOME DOUBT COMES CLOSEST TO THAT IDEA. THE RUTLEDGE SHORT STORIES ARE OFTEN SET DURING THE WAR WHEN HAMISH WAS ALIVE. WHAT INTRIGUES US IS A NOVEL ABOUT THE PRE-WAR YEARS THAT GIVES US A DIFFERENT FLEXIBILITY IN SETTING AND ACTION AND CHARACTERS.
(CAROLINE--WHAT CHARLES REFERS TO AS MY DOROTHY DUNNETT MODE.)
A NON-RUTLEDGE MAYBE, BUT CERTAINLY A MYSTERY. AND MOST CERTAINLY A STAND-ALONE, NOT A SERIES. WE'VE LEARNED SO MUCH ABOUT THE WAR THAT WE CAN'T USE IN THE RUTLEDGE STORIES, AND SOMETHING IS BOUND TO HAPPEN.

18) Well, here’s a question I usually can only get one perspective on.
What was Charles like as a kid?

CAROLINE: PRECOCIOUS. STUBBORN. TOO SMART FOR WORDS. CARING. AND ALREADY MARCHING TO HIS OWN DRUMMER. STAND HIM IN A CORNER FOR BEING NAUGHTY, AND HE'D BE MAKING UP GAMES WITH THE SHADOWS ON THE WALL. A SLOW TEMPER. SOME OF THE NEATEST IDEAS. INTERESTING GUY, EVEN AT TWO. OF COURSE THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I COULD GLADLY KILL HIM, YOU UNDERSTAND. BUT AS HE AGES, LIKE GOOD BRANDY HE GETS BETTER.

19) Have you “tucker-ized” anyone in your books?

NOT REALLY BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO FORCE FIT A CHARACTER INTO A PRE-EXISTING MOLD. BUT THERE ARE CHARACTERISTICS THAT SHOW UP SOMETIMES AND SURPRISE US. A WRITER ABSORBS EVERYTHING, AND SOONER OR LATER IT REAPPEARS. BUT YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE THAT UNTIL ALL AT ONCE YOU RECOGNIZE A HABIT OR A WAY OF THINKING. THE QUESTION IS, IS THAT CHARACTER ALWAYS THE VILLAIN?
NO. WE GENEROUSLY SPREAD THESE THINGS AROUND.

20) When will I be able to buy a Rutledge Rain Coat?

CHARLES: I DON'T KNOW. I CAN SEE A LINE OF TRENCH COATS WITH HIS NAME ON THE LABEL. REALLY COOL STUFF LIKE THOSE HEMINGWAY FISHING HATS. WHAT WAS THAT CATALOG THAT USED TO COME IN THE MAIL? PETERSON'S? IT HAD THE KIND OF FLAIR THAT GOES WITH RUTLEDGE AND THE GREAT WAR.

21) How important is a good editor?

HOW IMPORTANT IS BREATHING?? WE'VE BEEN LUCKY WITH TWO OF THE FINEST IN THE BUSINESS, RUTH CAVIN AND KATE MICIAK. WHEN THEY SPEAK, YOU LISTEN. THEY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE THAT A GOOD WRITER NEEDS TO LOOK EVEN BETTER. BOTH KATE AND RUTH LOVED A TEST OF WILLS (BANTAM DID THE SOFTCOVER, ST. MARTIN'S THE HARDCOVER) AND THEY UNDERSTAND WHERE RUTLEDGE IS COMING FROM. AND WE'VE DECIDED THAT IF WE CAN EVER KIDNAP HALF OF KATE'S VERY EFFICIENT STAFF, WE COULD PROBABLY WRITE TWO BOOKS A YEAR.

22) What’s the one thing always in your refrigerator?

CHARLES--YOU KNOW WHAT'S IN MINE--ICE CUBES FOR A NOW 17 YEAR OLD CAT WHO WANTS TO SEE ICEBERGS FLOATING IN HIS WATER DISH THE MINUTE I STEP IN THE DOOR.

CAROLINE--YOU MEAN BESIDES HALF GALLONS OF CHOCOLATE ICE CREAM? I THINK THERE'S ALSO A SIX YEAR OLD LOBSTER CALLED GEORGE IN THE FREEZER. HE WAS PART OF THE CELEBRATION FOR PUBLICATION OF TEST OF WILLS, AND WE COULDN'T BEAR TO EAT HIM AFTER SOMEBODY NAMED HIM.