Thread by @allsoulspod

.@StephenieEloise here!! I’ll be taking over Twitter & Instagram tonight at the Glasgow talk with @DebHarkness! Starting with a wee meet-up to chat with other fans & wine at @shillingbrewco.

A wee Glasgow conventicle!!

We are here!!!!

All. The. Books. Must. Have.

.@DebHarkness is here!!! ALL THE EXCITEMENT!

‘If you think it might be a spoiler for even a second, then it’s a spoiler...’

‘It didn’t seem like I was doing any of the things on Pinterest.’ (On her writing process)

Back to 2014/5: Fans clearly wanted more. ‘No, really.’
Didn’t want to be an author where you just walk into Waterstones & you go oh God there’s more...

After #BookofLife, ‘I needed a sabbatical.’ Everyone (incl Diana & Matthew) was exhausted. And could I go back into world? If so, how?

Then @ADiscoveryOfWTV comes along and Deb gets transported back into Bishop-Clairmont world! (And who isn’t glad of that?!)

Dachshund races - BIG in the US!! ‘8 squirmy wormy wiener dogs in a line’ and then ‘total pandemonium’! (DH on her brain.) Three story ideas in All Souls. Five not! But because of #ADOWTV All Souls wins bc efficiency. Then question of how!

‘Giving something than just more. Something different and worthy.’ Readers fabulous, ask challenging questions. Didn’t know if book would be on Matthew in 16th, Gallowglass, or Marcus. Notebooks (different colours 😍😍) with ideas for all.

Still a little asleep - inner critic voices still asleep. Write about questions. Like: What did Matthew think of Anne Boleyn? Then write, and write.

Then to uni, research time! Books, primary sources. Fact check?

What would Marcus think about #Hamilton? (Probably not good...) Marcus wouldn’t like Hamilton, but who would he have liked? Ask questions, research, ask more. Then ah-ha moment. For #TimesConvert: what is Marcus reading?

What is Marcus reading? Paine’s Common Sense.

More research, realisation Revolution Thomas Paine wanted is not the one we had. Idealism of Paine would have reasonated with Marcus. ‘This is the formative influence on Marcus’s life.’

Marcus’s favourite books gives title for #TimesConvert. Paine describes Revolution as a family fight. What happens when you have a bad parent who won’t let children grow up.

Anyone who lived under bad father has right to break away - radical in 18th. Foundations of civilisation based on family. Interesting in thinking of generational conflict between Matthew and Marcus.

Imagine father born in 500AD where authority key, survival dependent on absolute obedience. Vs Marcus reading Paine. That would make for a great father-son conflict. ‘Almost like breaking into a safe and then click, click, click, it opens.’

Ah-ha moment also: 3 stories about coming of age. ‘Kinder, quieter, summer vacation’ kind of story. Gently forward about one year = tell story about D, M, & twins (about 18 mos, aka entering terrible twos).

Matthew & Diana: How are we going to be parents?

Then Phoebe. Traditional marriage with Marcus = both vampires.

Sources include: What to Expect When You’re Expecting & other parenting books. Realise vampires do things faster. Vampire day = human year. Also read old, ancient, medieval, etc development books. ‘It is not a new concern!’

‘Back in the day... women who have just given birth were kept away from community... then churched and brought into community again.’

‘Oh I’m stealing that!’

Where is Marcus in all this? ‘While he was there waiting ... he would be remembering his own experiences as a child, as a newly made vampire... almost impossible for him not to be talking about it’ —> becomes third strand. ‘How time changes us all...’

In writing story, ‘wanted to give more and something that was worthy of you.’ Make readers think, consider these issues. ‘We’re not beyond these.’ Including with politics now. Still dealing with issues discussed in 1776.

Doesn’t mean other dachshunds are away, ‘I just have to find them again.’

Q: Biggest influence in writing? What books, etc?
A: don’t read a lot of fiction, haven’t since grad school. Read 7-8 academic books that don’t really inspire you to write vampire books.

Found Mists of Avalon, The Witching Hour, In the Name of the Rose, Possession in bookshelf. ‘That’s kinda the bizarre inspiration.’ Hasn’t read Dracula.

Shoutout to the team behind The World of All Souls!! (We love you! And it...)

Jefferson not in book because Marcus didn’t care for him...

Sun of this world is Phillippe. Everything and everyone spins around him. Everything moving around ‘essentially a dead star.’ (Everyone just went ahhh. Also, pass the tissues...) @DebHarkness

Q: More on daemons please??
A: Like all underappreciated minorities, just waiting to figure out their role and importance. We’re getting there. Have to go to the far corner of universe to understand. Sorta know answer and just lurking around until moment where MUST focus...

Can’t focus on all things all the time.

Q: NEW FACT ABOUT GALLOWGLASS PLEASE?!
A: screeching stop: Ireland, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand. Need to go to all the places he’s been. That dachshund is walking, ambling... not sure ready to say anything. Fundamental Qs about him may have very surprising answers!!

Will he find his love one day? (Audience: he’s gay?) Deb: He’s not gay. But think about all the assumptions wrapped up into that. (Not Rebecca. No times about 5-6!)

Q: Morbid but Diana leaving Sept Tour, did P actually see him?
A: yes. You know that. Think...
Q: Timewalker? Her soul?
A: THERE NOT AS A GHOST. (And that’s all I’m saying.)

.@gregjmchugh IS HAMISH. Deb heard voice and went I WANT HIM! He’s warm, funny, sharp, and clever. Wish he was here. (Glasgow audience agrees.)

Note, not in charge. Concerned with acting not looks.

Q: ever have a day off?
A: no. I can’t do that. Even when I’m sick, I’m pacing around worried about that. I’m not good at it. It’s not work ‘When you really love it.’ Imaginative work instead.

Deb: Are you happy with @ADiscoveryOfWTV. RESOUNDING YES in the room. Deb comments on trickiness. If we made book as TV show, Diana at desk with voiceover which wouldn’t be riveting. Extra info like Gerbert & Meridiana as a head in a box. Ppl around table were like wait, go back.

Q: is there an option for other series.
A: they own rights for this galaxy ‘and literally in contract places yet to be discovered’ for the trilogy. If don’t do in certain timeframe, reverts back to Deb. In their court to continue. Keep fingers crossed.

Oh, @SkyOne @BadWolf_TV @sundance_now @shudder...

And ending talk with note of ‘good thing I didn’t have a drink with dinner or you would’ve gotten a lot out of me!!’

Also my bad for any mistakes because hurry and all the fun things coming out!! Hope everyone following along has enjoyed!!

End of the queue selfie!!

That’s me out for tonight!! Thanks for following along! And MAJOR THANK YOU (and all the hugs) to the amazing @DebHarkness for her inspiring, witty, and funny talk tonight! And the signing and photos! Another great event that shows how special the All Souls family is!

PS I may (totally will) be in London for the Friday talk/screening & I’ll do my best to give a run-down of that excitement, too!!