Ask the Wife

Posted By: Kathleen DavidPosted On:

Along with the BID columns, I thought I might give you a chance to ask me questions.

Of course this comes with some conditions.

I won’t get into either political or religious discussions or debates. It can make this kind of opportunity dissolve into nothing real fast.

There are certain projects that I cannot and may not discuss because of various non-disclosure agreements I have signed or the company has signed.

I will answer as time allows within the comments/questions. I am in the middle of getting ready for the Shoreleave Costume Contest among a few other things that I need to do.

Kathleen

68 comments on “Ask the Wife”

  1. “TO: edhopper

    This is ASK THE WIFE. NOT ask PAD. Pay attention.”

    In the words of Homer J. Sompson;
    “DOOOOOH!!!!”

  3. In the SF genre, is there something that you truly love and Peter can’t stand and vice versa? If so, what are they? Books, tv, film et al.

    (Answer: Hmmmm. We talked it over and came up with that I like “Family Guy” and “Highlander the TV series”Peter can take it or leave them (esp. Highlander).)

  4. My nieces are making me ask this question. This is meant, I guess, for Kathleen and your kids, but also for PAD, because the girls loved his “Little Mermaid” comic. And the question is:

    Kim Possible.

    Your opinion of it, and the chances of your being involved in any future projects.

    (Answer:Ariel likes the series and Peter would write the comic if offered but not very likely at this juncture.)

  5. Can you speak to what determines if a book sells in hardback or paperback formats or is it just flat out money? I mean clearly if they think they can make more with a hardback, I understand why a publisher would do it. I remember Peter saying he had no control over Restoration coming out in hardback when the first two were in paperback. At least with a book like Restoration it’s worth it – I remember reading 2061 by Clarke and realizing the font leading was insane and the only reason was trying to puff up the page count to make it seem like you weren’t getting ripped off if you bought the hardcover. Anyway – I’m curious as to how the decision process for determining leading and font spacing, etc. works. Sorry if that’s a lame question…

    (Answer: It’s not a lame question but a rather complicated one with many permutations as to why one thing and not another. I can tell you that I was the editor on a series called “Starfist”. It had been being published as a mass market and the numbers on the book were very nice. The authors got tapped for Star Wars at my suggestion and we decided to try to bring their profile up a bit by releasing the next book in the Starfist series in Hardcover a move we had been toying with but the Star Wars book put it over the top so we could convince the publisher that this was a good idea. The first hardcover did very well for all and subsequent books have been published in hardcover then mass market.)

  6. Who are some of your favorite characters in Sci-Fi television history?

    (answer: That list would probably take up most of the space alotted for this blog so I’ll go with my top five right now before I have had any coffee

    1.Dr. Who
    2.Spock
    3.Yoda
    4.Aeryn Sunn
    5.Rimmer)

  7. I am wondering if Peter found the Darth Tater toy at the end. I have just got mine but got it from the marketplace at Amazon.co.uk

    It is a wonderful toy, my daugher loves it and me too.

    If Peter wants to order it (or you for him), ordering from the USA should be no problem. I am living in Britain and have ordered from Amazon.com before. No problems but you have to pay for the postage costs of course and be more patient.

    (Answer: Yes. We found two at a toy story chain called KB Toys shortly after the toy was released. Apparently you can still find them and the dark chocolate M&M in New Jersey but no where else in the North East. )

  8. My wife and I recently got our own Darth Tater here in the Chicago area at a local Target. Wal Mart is also stocking them, and we got the Dark Side M&Ms as well, at a Target.

    Our son (due in October) will no doubt enjoy his Dark Spud of the Sith, but we’re going to get a conventional Potato Head, as the trap door on our Darth falls out, and the arm holes appear to be too big to pose his arms.

    (Answer: Hmmm haven’t had that problem with ours but then we haven’t played with it much yet.)

  9. 1. Do you help Peter with a project by giving suggestions about what should happen in the story if he gets writer’s block?

    (Answer: Peter doesn’t suffer from writer’s block. As he puts it he doesn’t have time for it. If he is trying to work out what to do with something in a project he will use me as a sound board and ask me if I have any bright ideas to add.)

    2. Does he listen to your suggestions if you offer them?
    (Answer: Yes he does.)

    JHL

  10. I just wanted to respond to someone’s question above about how Star Wars authors feel when George Lucas does something in the movies that contradicts something that they’ve done. I met Timoth Zahn once and he was asked this question. He said that writing for Star Wars is like playing in George Lucas’ driveway. It’s a lot of fun, but if he runs over your toys backing his car up, hey, it’s his driveway.

    (Answer: I can hear Tim saying that. *grin*)

  11. Will you and/or Peter be attending San Diego Comic-Con? Because that would be swell.

    (Answer: Peter will be attending. The girls and I have plans that preclude us from attending. Maybe next year.)

  12. Somewhere in one of these boxes – points vigourously and then realises it’s pointless – I have a unique photo of Peter on the set of Red Dwarf with the cast at Shepperton Studios… so, it made me think…though it’s not being filmed anymore, any opportunities for you, he – or indeed the whole Clan David to be heading to the UK anytime soon?

    John M

    (Answer: We’d really like to. I spend sometime in Oxford and London when I was in college. Last time I was there I was there for less than 24 hours and managed to see the opening of Les Miz [well part of it I fell asleep before the end of Act 1]. Right now we don’t have plans to but things can change rather fast around here.)

  13. Just wanted to give you and your family a heads up on this. There is supposedly a second SW Mr. Potato Head coming out around October/November called “Spudtrooper.”

    (Answer: Thanks for the heads up.)

  14. So which Doctor is your favorite and why?

    Also, have you listened to the Big Finish Production cd adventures of the Fifth through Eighth Doctors? Some of them are quite good.

    (Answer: Ooooo this is such a hard one. I haven’t seen enough of the current one to form an opinion so I am not counting him. I have to say that deep in my heart it is Tom Baker who was the first Doctor I saw extensive adventures of. I find that most Dr. Who fans seem to be partial to the Doctor they started with. I have heard some of the Big Finish productions. Those that I have heard I have enjoyed.)

  17. Regarding the Big Finish Productions cds of Doctor Who, have you heard DOCTOR WHO AND THE PYRATES? The Sixth Doctor sings. A very well done musical with a Gilbert and Sullivan touch.

  18. Kathleen,

    Hey there! Mark here, from the NY Ren Faire, a few years back.

    Two thingies about puppets:

    1. I wasn’t sure, from the above: Did you make the actual puppet/s that were used in the episode “Angel”? Or do you just make really cool Angel puppets.

    2. Have you ever heard of the Chekoslovakian American Marionette Theater? My roommate is performing in one of their upcoming shows, “Bass Saxaphone,” at the arch in Grand Army Plaza. From what he says, it’s going to be pretty cool. Just thought you’d like to know.

    Cheers,
    Mark

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