Ask the Author: Tracy Chevalier
Answered Questions (66)
Tracy Chevalier
Hi Josephine
Sorry for the delay in replying! I live near Highgate Cemetery in London, where the book is set. Many years ago I went on a tour of it with a visiting friend, and was struck by the symbols of death used on the graves, and also the gothic atmosphere. I decided right then that I had to set a book there, and so I started doing volunteer work at the cemetery to get to know it and its history better. At first I thought I would write a novel set in the present, and then thought about its Victorian origins. But eventually I decided the most interesting part of the cemetery's history was when society began to turn away from celebrating death in an ostentious way and moved more towards understatement. This coincided with Queen Victoria dying and her son becoming Edward VII. So I set the book then, with two families representing two styles - the past and the future.
Sorry for the delay in replying! I live near Highgate Cemetery in London, where the book is set. Many years ago I went on a tour of it with a visiting friend, and was struck by the symbols of death used on the graves, and also the gothic atmosphere. I decided right then that I had to set a book there, and so I started doing volunteer work at the cemetery to get to know it and its history better. At first I thought I would write a novel set in the present, and then thought about its Victorian origins. But eventually I decided the most interesting part of the cemetery's history was when society began to turn away from celebrating death in an ostentious way and moved more towards understatement. This coincided with Queen Victoria dying and her son becoming Edward VII. So I set the book then, with two families representing two styles - the past and the future.
Tracy Chevalier
Hi Heidi
My ancestors were French Huguenots from the Cevennes who fled after the Massacre of St Bartholomew in 1572, ending up in the town of Moutier in Switzerland. My Dad was born there in the 20th century before emigrating with my grandparents to the US. I decided to write about the Cevennes in The Virgin Blue as a way to get to know where the Chevaliers originally came from. None of that story is the Chevalier story - we know nothing about them other than that they came from the Cevennes. But I loved getting to know the area.
My ancestors were French Huguenots from the Cevennes who fled after the Massacre of St Bartholomew in 1572, ending up in the town of Moutier in Switzerland. My Dad was born there in the 20th century before emigrating with my grandparents to the US. I decided to write about the Cevennes in The Virgin Blue as a way to get to know where the Chevaliers originally came from. None of that story is the Chevalier story - we know nothing about them other than that they came from the Cevennes. But I loved getting to know the area.
Tracy Chevalier
Thanks, Sofia! Ah, casting. I got very lucky with the young Scarlett Johansson. Hard to imagine getting as good an actress at the start of her career again. Maybe Florence Pugh if she were a little younger? I think she's a great actress. I would love to hear whom YOU would cast!
Tracy Chevalier
It will be available when the book is published later this year - in June 2024 in the US, and Sept 2024 in the UK.
Tracy Chevalier
Thanks, Vicki, so glad you liked it! I know it must seem hard to get Orsola through all that time. But strangely enough, I found it easy. In a way she simply came on the journey with me as I researched Venetian history. It happened this way because early on it became clear to me that I didn't want to leave her and the other Rossos behind as I moved on. So I just...didn't. They came with me! It always felt quite natural to do this. It only became unnatural when the editors read a draft and said, "What?!" :) Then I had to finesse it a little, to help readers make those leaps in time easily. I am glad it worked for you!
Tracy Chevalier
Thank you, Sherril! I know about Rosalind Franklin - she is finally emerging from the shadows of Crick and Watson. I feel like someone has already written a novel about her, but not sure who! And definitely there are biographies. But I will keep your suggestion in mind!
Tracy Chevalier
Thanks, E.L! Yes, crafts definitely inspire my books. I am very interested in what people did with their hands. So glassmaking with the new book was very inspiring!
Tracy Chevalier
Hi Wendy - That's not one of my books, but I'm wondering if it might be The Doll Factory by Elizabeth Macneal?
Tracy Chevalier
Hi Kathy
Yes, Ammonite is a different story from Remarkable Creatures. My book focusses much more on what Mary accomplishes scientifically, and also explores the power of friendship - a friendship that did exist, we know Mary and Elizabeth were friends, we have the letters. Ammonite is much more speculative. It will be harder to make a mini-series out of RC since Ammonite exists, but we're working on it!
Yes, Ammonite is a different story from Remarkable Creatures. My book focusses much more on what Mary accomplishes scientifically, and also explores the power of friendship - a friendship that did exist, we know Mary and Elizabeth were friends, we have the letters. Ammonite is much more speculative. It will be harder to make a mini-series out of RC since Ammonite exists, but we're working on it!
Tracy Chevalier
Hola, Ronald! I am not sure I understand your question but I'll try. It's common for siblings not to apologise to each other. Griet leaves it too late with Agnes. She'll always feel guilty for that, but it was a natural thing for her to do - she's young, it's her sister. Does that help?
Tracy Chevalier
Blimey! That's quite an article. I never noticed the lesion the author says he sees on the Girl's lip, and am a little sceptical about the diagnosis of syphilis! It's funny, I think I know the painting well, but I am constantly being pointed out things I hadn't noticed before, like that her ear lobe is being pulled by the earring, or that the light points in her eyes are not quite the same, giving her a 3D quality. And now, her lip! Thanks for this, very interesting...
Tracy Chevalier
We're still looking into how Remarkable Creatures could be made into a series or a film. It takes some time to get these things off the ground, and putting some distance between Ammonite and Remarkable Creatures is no bad thing. Also it would focus on the science and the remarkable discoveries she made. The great thing is that with all this attention Mary Anning is becoming so much better known and respected. That can only be a good thing, right?
Tracy Chevalier
Hi Kate,
Your question is a little painful, because the existence of Ammonite means that Remarkable Creatures is now much less likely to be made into a movie or tv series. Not impossible, but harder. Do people really want to see two movies about Mary Anning? I doubt it. Because of this, and because Ammonite focusses on a fictional story of Mary's later years rather than on the truly remarkable things she accomplished when she was younger (which is what Remarkable Creature's focus is), I think it best if I avoid seeing the movie.
All the best,
Tracy
Your question is a little painful, because the existence of Ammonite means that Remarkable Creatures is now much less likely to be made into a movie or tv series. Not impossible, but harder. Do people really want to see two movies about Mary Anning? I doubt it. Because of this, and because Ammonite focusses on a fictional story of Mary's later years rather than on the truly remarkable things she accomplished when she was younger (which is what Remarkable Creature's focus is), I think it best if I avoid seeing the movie.
All the best,
Tracy
Tracy Chevalier
Thank you! So glad you liked it. And I snuck in some Shakespeare :)
Tracy Chevalier
Hi Kami,
Good luck with that thesis, and my apologies for the late reply. You have perhaps already turned it in! I'm not sure I can be of help. I wrote Ian from a slightly different slant, since he is a boy and Iago a man. Iago is a masterful manipulator, while Ian is a playground bully looking for any way to obtain power, and uses a more primitive/undeveloped form of manipulation on Osei. Will he grow up to be an Iago? Possibly.
Good luck with your work!
TC
Good luck with that thesis, and my apologies for the late reply. You have perhaps already turned it in! I'm not sure I can be of help. I wrote Ian from a slightly different slant, since he is a boy and Iago a man. Iago is a masterful manipulator, while Ian is a playground bully looking for any way to obtain power, and uses a more primitive/undeveloped form of manipulation on Osei. Will he grow up to be an Iago? Possibly.
Good luck with your work!
TC
Tracy Chevalier
Hi Autumn,
I would dearly love for a movie to be made of Remarkable Creatures. Unfortunately another movie about Mary Anning is currently being made (called Ammonite; not based on RC), and the market is unlikely to support TWO films about her. Sigh.
I would dearly love for a movie to be made of Remarkable Creatures. Unfortunately another movie about Mary Anning is currently being made (called Ammonite; not based on RC), and the market is unlikely to support TWO films about her. Sigh.
Tracy Chevalier
Hi Linda,
How did I miss your question? Sorry about that! Glad you enjoyed Orchard so much. I don't tend to think in terms of sequels. The one thing I do know about the characters at the end (trying to avoid obvious spoilers) is that there is indeed a grove of redwoods on the border of England and Wales, planted in 1857. So that much happened. I think I'm going to leave them there!
TC
How did I miss your question? Sorry about that! Glad you enjoyed Orchard so much. I don't tend to think in terms of sequels. The one thing I do know about the characters at the end (trying to avoid obvious spoilers) is that there is indeed a grove of redwoods on the border of England and Wales, planted in 1857. So that much happened. I think I'm going to leave them there!
TC
Tracy Chevalier
Apologies, Jen, I have only just discovered your question! I have a new book out in September called A Single Thread, about a single woman in 1930s Winchester, trying to find her place in a world that expects all women to marry. Cathedrals, embroidery, bellringing - it's all in there!
Cheers,
Tracy
Cheers,
Tracy
Tracy Chevalier
September 17, 2019! It's called A SINGLE THREAD.
Tracy Chevalier
Thanks, Soul Survivor! And sorry for the delay in replying. :)
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