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Shadow

Hello!

I'm just reading Neverwhere actually. Enjoying it immensely as always.

Was wondering if you'll ever do any more stories about Shadow. He's such and interesting character in suc an interesting universe.

Anyway, keep up the good work, and do more movies! MirrorMask was brilliant!

Innsendt av: Katja

I expect so. One day.

Neil
 

New comics

Hi

Are you planning any new comics for Vertigo in the future?
I'm a long time fan, and am currently enjoying "Fragile Things", but I miss that monthly fix that Sandman used to give me.
Innsendt av: RW

Maybe for Sandman's 20th I'll do a comic.

Neil
 

Personal favourite

Which of your own stories (comic or otherwise) are you most happy with?


Innsendt av: Magnus

Mr Punch.

Sandman 50 (Ramadan).

I quite like Coraline and a short story called "Bitter Grounds".

Neil
 

Good Omens

Good Omens is a book that always makes me laugh like a crazy person on the bus... What was is like working with Terry Pratchett? How on earth did you get any WORK done??
Innsendt av: Miss W

We did it on the telephone. We plotted it together, making each other laugh, and then we went off to write on our own.

Neil
 

Are you currently writing or planning to write another graphic novel og novel? And is there any possibility that you will be collaborating with any graphic novel writers from DC Vertigo, e.g. Bill Willingly, Warren Ellis or Brian Vaughan?

Thanks for the wonderful stories, I'm a huge fan, just as many, many others.
I actually met you at a signing in London two years ago, something I brag about quite often.
Innsendt av: Silje Nørsett

Not sure that I'd want to collaborate with another writer, though. It's fun in prose, but harder in comics as you keep thinking "I wouldn't have done it like that..."

Neil
 

Creativity

Do you feel fortunate to be so incredably creative mr. Gaiman, or do you feel compelled to create?
Also does writing come easy, or do you sometimes struggle with it?
Innsendt av: Morten Halvorsen / Imagonem

It depends on the day. I'm very lucky, though.

Neil
 

Hi

Don't have any particular question really just wanted to say that I greatly enjoy your work (Sandman in particular) and hope to see you in Norway sometime :)

Am also a huge fan of your blog and send my best wishes to poor little Fred.

All the best
Innsendt av: Monica

Oh good.

Fred the cat is living in the garage right now, and looks happier.

Neil
 

What would you have wanted to know?

What would you have wanted to know about you if you were me? I find it difficult to figure out a good question ... All I know is that your work is truly amazing!
Innsendt av: Lisa

thank you!

Neil
 

Desire

Are you planning on doing some more stories on Desire of the Endless?

I think the one in "Endless Night" are beautiful. And Milo Manara is just the perfect guy to do the drawing. :-)
Innsendt av: Tone

Maybe one day.

I was thrilled when Manara said yes, and wrote that story just for him to draw.

Neil
 

Mr. Alice

Will you be writing more about Mr. Alice? I really liked the fusing between his storyline and the one of Shadow, from American Gods.

I also have to say that I'm a huge fan, especially of your mythology- and Cthulhu mythos-related works.
Innsendt av: Maja H. Kvendseth

Probably, yes. He seems like he wants to be in another story.

Neil
 

Dear Mr. Gaiman

First I want to tell you how much I adore your work and your imagination. As an artstudent you inspire me in so many ways, thank you so much!

Well, I've got 2 questions for you:
1. What do you and Tori do for fun?(Bless her)..and:
2. Who's your favorite artist?



Thanks for making my nightmares go away.

Love from Trude.

Innsendt av: Trude Skjold Løken

1) For fun, mostly we go for walks and talk a lot on the way. (Isn't that boring? We should be fired into lower-level orbit and make sky-ballets or something.)

2) Harry Clarke's my favourite 20th century illustrator. Dave mcKean is always the most surprising artist to work with.

Neil
 

How?

Hi

I am a big fan of your work. I love all your graphic novels, and love your books. It seems like all you do is genius. Where do you find your ideas? How do you write? I am writing a fantasy novel myself, but find it hard to write enough, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, I am awestruck by your work. Please do not stop.
Innsendt av: Øystein

Most of the time ideas turn up when you're writing something else.

And writing is the hardest part. harder than ideas. Harder than anything.

Neil
 

Good Omens

I just have to ask...any chance of the Good Omens film being resumed? Is Gilliam still interesed?
Innsendt av: Kim

He's still interested. (Do you have 63 million dollars he could have to make it? no? Have you checked all your pockets?)

Neil
 

Evige netter

Again - thank you! I'll send you finished copies of the book soon.
Best,
Ise
Innsendt av: Iselin Røsjø Evensen

Hurrah! (and thank you for everything.)

Neil
 

sandman - the movie

english?/norsk?

hi,
I go through the whole sandman-saga once a year and I will problably do it for the rest of my life. You're probably sick of this question, but here goes: the movie - will there ever be one, you think?
Innsendt av: anders

I don't know. But I'd rather no movie than a bad one.

Neil
 

The lovely Tori

Hi, Neil!

So here you are when I need you!
I am a huge fan of Tori Amos, and through her I got to know your artistic materials. I must say that I am very impressed. I love Sandman.

Put the two of you together, and it is perfection - like Strange Little Girls.
Will you in the future perhaps do anything like this again? Pretty please?

Love from Trondheim
Innsendt av: Marielle

I don't know. Things like that aren't planned, they just sort of happen.

Neil
 

References

Hi Neil.

Your books and comics are filled with references to old mythology and great literary works as well as obscure novels and poems. I am curious about your reading habits: What was the last novel you read and what persuaded you to pick it up?

Do you find it harder to find the time to read now you are in such a big demand? Will that make it harder to find sources?

What was the last novel you read?

Looking forward to the new "Fragile things!!!

I must say I love your nonchalant comment about "Did it seem like the last decade went pretty fast?" in your Matrix novel...


Best regards
Christian
Innsendt av: Christian

It's definitely harder to find time to read these days.

the last novel I read was Daniel Pinkwater's wonderfully funny novel The Neddiad.

Neil
 

Star Wars

I wold love to see you do a Star Wars script for Dark Horse Comics. Would you be interested if asked? Or have you been asked and declined?

Thanks for all the great reads.


Innsendt av: Elf

No-one's ever asked me.

Neil
 

;)

love your work.. *thumbs up* you are seriously skilled... :D
Innsendt av: KristinaBallerina

thank you

Neil
 

Sequel?

Do you have any plans for a sequel to American Gods, with Shadow as the main character? I've read the short story in Legends, but I want more :)
Innsendt av: Anubiel

One day, yes.

Neil
 

Good Omens

You've probably been asked this before, but as a HUGE fan of both you and Terry Pratchett, I'm really curious as to how your collaboration on Good Omens worked. It reads like a Pratchett-novel to me (no offense), with a lot of your trademarks thrown in, so in my mind Pratchett wrote it, while you fed him ideas. Probably totally wrong, so set me right, please! :)

Also, do you know any more about the plans for a movie adaptation of Good Omens? I know Terry Gilliam is eager to do it, but apparently he lacks the money to get the actors he wants, from what I hear on the net.

Thanks, and thanks for your excellent work, hope you keep it up for many, many more years! You keep writin' 'em, I'll keep readin' 'em! ;)
Innsendt av: Jon A. Schjelderup

No, we both wrote it. I'd written the first scenes, and sent them to Terry to read, and he called a few months later and asked if I was still doing it and if I'd like to collaborate.

The new edition of GOOD OMENS out in the US has lots of information on how it written -- we did FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS and things in it.

Neil
 

Neil and Tori

Hi Neil,

How did you get to know Tori Amos, and how do you affect each other artistically?

Love your work (and Tori's of course),

Vegard
Innsendt av: Vegard

We met after I was given a tape of her music in 1991, and we became friends and stayed friends.

Neil
 

Movie/tv series

Hi, love the sandman books, and wonder if you have thought about ever turning it into a movie or a tv series? Personly i would love a sandman movie, but it would have to match the books, and i know from some other movies that came from simular sources, that can go both ways. What is your view on the matter?
Innsendt av: lain

I agree.

Neil
 

Mainstream comics

Hello Neil, huge fan of your Sandman stories. Loved MirrorMask as well.

But have you ever considered doing more so-called "mainstream comics", like The Phantom (who is very popular in Norway), Batman, or even Superman?
Innsendt av: Paul

Sure. You'll find BATMAN in a Secret Origin of Batman Villains story i wrote, along with Batman Black and White, and Superman in a story I wrote about him and Green Lantern going to Hell.

Nobody ever asked me to write The Phantom, alas.

Neil
 

Movies and tv-series

Hello Neil. Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. Here are some of mine:

1. How involved are you in the upcoming Coraline and Stardust movies?
2. Any chance of a Neverwhere movie? The BBC series really didn't live up to the story's full potential.
3. Are you currently in Norway to launch the new norwegian version of Endless nights? I have some copies of your books I want signed :)

Thank you for giving me back the joy of reading.
Innsendt av: Kenneth

1) Fairly involved in STARDUST, much less involved in CORALINE

2) I hope so

3) No, I'm not -- still in the US. But I hope to come back. I have many good friends in Norway.

Neil
 

Hullo!

Who is your favourite character in Sandman?
Have a nice day!
Innsendt av: Ingrid

Again, too much like "Who's your favourite child?" It depends on my mood. And I have a lot of favourites.

Neil
 

Apocatastases

How do you pronounce Apocatastases? I just don't.
Innsendt av: Mykle

You should try harder.

Neil
 

Soundtrack

Hello mr. Gaiman!

What's the soundtrack to your life/writing?

..Wagner, Sisters Of Mercy, Danny Elfman?

Thanks for the contibution to my mind!
Innsendt av: Ask

More like The Magnetic Fields, The Gothic Archies, Thea Gilmore and Michael Nyman. This week.

Neil
 

The gods in Sandman

In the Sandman graphic novels there are rather a lot of gods around, particularly Odin and Loki from Norse mythology and Baast from Egyptian mythology. Yet there is also elements from Christianity such as the angels and Lucifer, suggesting (to me) that the afterlife is based on concepts from Judeo-Christianity. Does this make Christianity the "right" religion in the Sandman universe? Based on the idea found in both in Sandman and "American Gods" that gods are created when people start believing in them and die/disappear when people stop believing, are the other gods in the Sandman universe merely a result of this, and is the Judeo-Christian God exempt from this process?
Innsendt av: Ylajali

I'm not quite sure why you feel Sandman priveleges Judeo-Christianity as opposed to the Norse God. (You'll not find Lucifer in the bible...)

Sandman takes place in the DC universe, in which all of these things exist.

Neil
 

Hello there

I just wanted to say hello and thank you for making Sandman. My favourite is "the season of mists" Thank you. I am looking forward to reading Endless nights. Btw; are your genius books ever going to be movies?
Innsendt av: Mainlo

STARDUST is the first, CORALINE the second...

Neil
 

Inspiration

I've been a big fan of your work for many years, not only because of your ability to tell amazing stories, but also because of your ability to give each unique character their own voice. The way you use words and weave your stories together is nothing but admirable. I'm juts wandering where you get your inspirations from? What makes you, as a writer, tick? And do you ever get tired of your stories, finding them hard to finish?
Innsendt av: Anne Aspenes

Sometimes, yes. But you finish them anyway, mostly.

Neil
 

Moustache

Hello,

Why don´t you have a moustache?
Innsendt av: Bart Habart

Like every man, during the shaving off of beards, I always make a moustache and look at it. Then I shave it off. There are some things the world is not ready for.

Neil
 

Sandman

Hi Neil. Love your work, your wonderful fantasy and your close relationship with my fav. artist, Tori Amos.
You're both very cool cats!

When you write, do you ever think that you wanna write something to "educate" or "wake up" people in (the western) world, or do you simply write what the inner voice tells you to?

My deepest respect and gratitude. Thank you for making my life richer.
Innsendt av: Siri from Norway

I'm no sure that it's One or the Other. (Do you eat a meal because it tastes nice, or because you're hungry, or because you need food to live?)

Neil
 

Book signing

Hi.

I have to say that I enjoy your fiction, be it graphic novels, short stories or novels, immensely. Along with Clive Barker, you manage to erase the borders between reality, the fantastic and the magic in between.

I'm currently reading American Gods again, and all I can say is "thumpin good read".

Enough of the praise, as you're probably allready aware of the fact that you're a genious writer ;)

Will you be doing a book signing here in Oslo, and if so, where and when?

Oh.... and one more thing. Who came up with the character John Constantine? You or Jamie Delano? (I might be shooting blind here and someone else did, in which case I appologise)
Innsendt av: The Allfather

Constantine was created by Alan Moore and Steve Bissette and John Totleben, in SWAMP THING.

No plans to do an Oslo signing this year, but you never know.

Neil
 

Lucien's library

In Norway we have a saying we use when we have forgotten something, which is that the forgotten has gone into "glemmeboken," which can be loosely translated into "the book of the forgotten." I know that things forgotten aren't technically dreams, but do you think that Lucien might have these books stacked away someplace in his library anyway?:) Adore you, by the way:) Thank you!
Innsendt av: Linn Kristin Haug

Thank you Linn. What a cool phrase. And yes, I think so. (Hmm... now that's a story...)

Neil
 

Gift!

Hi,
My boyfriend loves your work and has read every Sandman book you have ever created!I just got him a book of interviews with you and am now trying to come up with a good christmas present for him.Do you have any suggestions?Either from your own work or others?
Thank you!
Innsendt av: Rachel Charlotte Sabella

The ABSOLUTE SANDMAN book is an incredibly impressive book, which will make him happy forever. Or at least until February.

Neil
 

Hello

I read the Sandman series that was published here in norway and i loved it.

Do you think there will be a movie version like they have done with Hellblazer?


Innsendt av: Lars E

I hope so, but only if it's as good as the comics. I'd hate to see a bad Sandman movie.

Neil
 

more animated films?

do you have any plans about making animated films of the sandman books??
Innsendt av: christina

Not personally, no.

Neil
 

Lucifer

Does the Lucifer in the Lucifer graphic novels differ much from how you envisaged him? If you yourself had written the scripts for those comics, would they be much different?
Innsendt av: Ylajali

Probably, but I didn't write it, Mike Carey did, and it was his vision.

Neil
 

Terry

Hello Neil, I was just wondering if you had considered any further collaboration with Terry Pratchett. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Also, where do you dig up research on stuff like bezoars?


Innsendt av: morphine

Old books. Dusty ones. And then you ask doctors to find you stuff. (These days there's also the web.)

Neil
 

Delight/Delerium and Despair

In the Sandman comics there are a couple of "mysteries" that are never explained: Why did Delight become Delerium, and what happened to the first Despair?
Innsendt av: Ylajali

Yup. Those are definitely mysteries, aren't they? Well spotted.

Neil
 

Doctor Doom

He tapes everything he says, wears a metal mask and cloak, and runs a small country in eastern Europe with the help of killer robots? How cool is Doctor Doom?
Innsendt av: Imagonem

He's 38% cool. The robots actually bring down his cool rating.

Neil
 

More "Good Omens"?

Dear Neil Gaiman!
I realy enjoyed reading the book "Good Omens", and I was wondering if you and Terry Pratchett have any plans of writing another book together. If you don't have any plans at the moment, could you please make some? it was one of the best books I've read in ages!

Innsendt av: Erik

see above

Neil
 

Good Omens?

Hi! First I would like to say that I love your books, just finished Neverwhere and Anansi Boys, Fragile Things should arrive in a day or two. (And you were right, by the way; After reading the short story in Smoke and Mirrors, the story of Snow White will never be the same again.)

So, to my question: I have heard rumours about a possible sequel to Good Omens, and even a movie based on it. Is this just rumors, or is this something that may be happening?
Innsendt av: Bob

see above

Neil
 

Mainstream

Comics, science-fiction and fantasy have over the past ten years entered and become part of mainstream culture to greater extent. What are the main repercussions of this? Are there any negative sides to these (more or less) subcultural expressions entering the mainstream?
Innsendt av: Imagonem

I think I liked it better when no-one knew who we were.

Neil
 

Neverwhere...

Will you ever continue the story of Door and Richard? It`s my all time high book and I would love to see the story continue. Keep up det good work!
Innsendt av: Jon

Maybe (see above)

Neil
 

writing

Hi Neil,

Just a few questions about the creative process you go through when writing:

Do you work from an undigested idea that forms chapter to sequential chapter or do you write in more chaotic manner where the story jumps and wriggles through the pages as you write?

How do you constantly renew your prose to keep it from repeating itself from story to story?

Do you ever plan to cut your hair? :)
Innsendt av: Tom

I tend to write pretty sequentially. More or less.

I renew my prose by using the same letters but in a different order each time.

I get haircuts but it never does any good.

Neil
 

Collaborations

Hello, Mr. Gaiman!

You've collaborated with a multitude of very talented artists and writers. Which collaborative project did you enjoy the most, and will you ever work with Terry Pratchett again (fingers crossed!) ?
Innsendt av: Rune

That's like asking a parent about his favourite child...

Neil
 

Sandman... again :)

My girlfriend and I were first in line at the Endless Nights signing at Tronsmo a few years ago, thanks for a lovely little chat and the nice pencilwork you bestowed on our humble Gaiman collection :)

I'd like to ask you a question about Sandman. As good as this series of graphic novels may be, I'd imagine you often tire of getting referred to as "the creator of Sandman" - Gaiman and Sandman are often mentioned in the same breath. Do you feel it's difficult to escape from the deep shadows of Dream's cloak, so to speak?
Innsendt av: johnp.

Not at all. It depends on the country and what they found first. There are countries in which I'm primarily a fantasy author, or a children's author, or a magical realist, or a science fiction writer. I'm as happy to be described as the creator of Sandman as I am to be described as the author of Coraline or the author of American Gods. In Scandinavia I'm best known for Sandman. In the US I seem to be best known as a novelist.

There are a lot of countries now where Sandman is being published because I'm a bestselling author, so I get asked why a famous novelist would go and do comics now.

I just grin and write whatever's next.

Neil
 

1602

Mr. Gaiman, I have enjoyed a lot of your works, both novels and graphic novels (and the quirky, but nice BBC "Neverwhere" series). I recently read your Marvel "alternate history" work "1602", which I believe hasn't been translated into Norwegian yet. I wanted to ask you whether you enjoyed working with all these classic superhero characters in a historic setting, and thus making a sort of "double" alternate history. Was this a kind of project you'd like to work on again?

Cheers on getting "Fragile Things" published, I'll have to pick that one up soon.
Innsendt av: Ursus

I loved doing 1602. Wouldn't want to do it again, but then, I've already done it.

Neil
 

comics vs videogames

I've been reading your comics for a long time (I have yet to read any of your novels), and I just bought the album Where's Neil When You Need Him? featuring Rasputina among others, which was an interesting project. Well, here's the question:

1A - Have you ever played any video game? If yes, do you have any favourites? What do you think of the quality of story writing in videogames?

1B - Do you think there is potential in storytelling in videogames?

1C - Have you ever considered writing stories for videogames?

2 - What do you think of Jeff Smith's Bone comics being adapted into PC adventure games?

I can really recommend checking out the webpage of the ambitious Tale of Tales: www.taleoftales.com.

The reason I ask mainly about videogames is because I believe that it is an interesting new entertainment form as well as art form, and I've been it seems like many of your (and your collegue Dave McKean's) ideas would perfect for games.

I'm doing a short essay on the videogame as a potential storytelling medium, and I'm looking for people to interview about the theme. I would be honoured if you would let me email you some questions. my address is nightshoot@gmail.com

keep up the good work!

Petter

Innsendt av: Petter Solberg

I'm not doing many interviews any more, I'm afraid, mostly because I could spend 12 hours a day answering questions for people and never get any writing done...

Neil
 

Never finished reading...

I never finished Good Omens. Tell me why I should. Now!

Thanks. Alot.
Innsendt av: Tomas

Why? Nobody has to finish a book they didn't enjoy. Put it down. Maybe one day when you're ready for it you'll pick it up and enjoy it. Or maybe it's just not for you. I wouldn't worry about it if I were you.

Neil
 

American gods

Hello . When can we see the masterpeases American gods and Neverwhere on norwegian, I`ve read them both on english, but I hope to read them in norwegian soon.
Innsendt av: Arne Otto Sørdal

Haven't they been published in Norwegian? I lose track sometimes of what's been published where. I know the biggest complaint of Norwegian Publishers (of all Scandinavian publishers, really) is how many readers have read my books in English...

Neil
 

with love from me to you

dear neil

you are really something. I like your books so much it's a little scary :)

what books do you like to read? do you have any recomendations?

best wishes for you and yours
Innsendt av: aremann

Sure -- I recommend Jonathan Carroll and Alan Moore and Susanna Clarke and Gene Wolfe and Kelly Link and Samuel R Delany and R. A. Lafferty and Hope Mirrlees and Lord Dunsany and John D MacDonald and peter Straub and Joe Hill and Ray Bradbury and Diana Wynne Jones and...

well, that's probably enough to be going on with. All very different, too.

Neil
 

About Neverwhere

I simply love Neverwhwere. I think it`s the absolute top in the genre. I was thinking about how would it be to let it be the first in a series of books about different towns. I mean, there was a new hunter, right. Think of New York, Rome, Beijing, Tokyo, Berlin, Dehli, and so, and so on. What do you think?
Innsendt av: Knut

I think that one day I may go back and write another Neverwhere book, but that I have many other things to write first that I haven't written before.

Neil
 

Development

How would you say you've evolved as an author since doing Sandman? What themes are central to you now? Have you changed focus in any way?
Innsendt av: Imagonem

That's for critics and academics to figure out, once it's all over. All I do is write stories, and try and figure out what happens next.

Neil
 

Alan Moore

How's he these days?
Innsendt av: Imagonem

Huge, hairy and, as far as I know, very happy.

Neil
 

Future Comics?

Are you doing any comicbook-projects these days, and if so, which?
Innsendt av: Imagonem

I'm just finishing The Eternals for marvel.

Neil
 

Endless nights

I found Sandman to grow stronger and stronger for every completed arch until the final, but felt let down by Endless Nights, which is now out in Norwegian. Many of the artists were interesting, but the storytelling seemed a little... rushed og left-handed. How would you appraise these stories in retrospect? What are their main strengths and weaknesses?
Innsendt av: Imagonem

I'm afraid I think the writer is the least qualified critic of his or her work. From my perspective, I wanted to write short stories for specific artists that would play to their strengths and be very different, each from each, and I did that.

ENDLESS NIGHTS was never meant to be a Sandman story arc, after all. It was meant to be a short story collection with seven different artists doing seven very different things.

Neil
 

Recent developments in comics

What do you think are the most important developments in the comics/graphic novel-medium in recent years?
Innsendt av: Imagonem

1) The Web -- making it easy to find and read comics and cheap to distribute and publish comics. (We still need to work out how that translates into feeding the people who make the comics. But that's a different question.)

2) The rise of the collection and the way graphic novels are now sold in bookshops, as books rather than as novelties.

Neil
 

Imagonem

Are you into roleplaying games (RPGs, Dungeons & Dragons, that kind of things). If so, in what way(s)? Have you written anything for RPGs (Warren Ellis did an intro-story for White Wolf's Adventure! once).
Innsendt av: Imagonem

Not really, but I've inspired a lot of games (they send them to me and say thank you). So I figure I've made things happen in the gaming world without actually doing it.

Neil
 

The Last Temptation

How was it to work with Alice Cooper, on The Last Temptation?



Innsendt av: Ask

Fun. He's a very nice man, and has a million amazing stories.

Neil
 

Thank you for all your writing!

You're my favourite writer. Please keep up your strange story-writing, it's a wonderful (and very scary) place to be.
Innsendt av: 32-Sandnes

Okay

Neil
 

American Gods

Hi Neill. This is not a question, but i just want to tell you that American Gods is the most amazing book i've read. I love it, and cant wait to read more books from you!
Innsendt av: Magnus

thank you

Neil
 

Questions? But of course!

How can you not have questions after reading a Gaiman-story: I always end up with hundreds... But I kind of like them, keeps the story alive. One comes to mind though: Desire and Despair were one but split. Why? Have you already told me?
Innsendt av: Hege

No, they weren't split. They were twins, though, and happened at the same time.

Neil
 

coraline

How did you come up with the plot for coraline? i love that book, all though i wished for an unhappy ending.
Innsendt av: your other reader

I just wrote down what happened next.

Neil
 

Good Omens

Good Omens is one of the best books i've read. Any plans of writing a new book with Terry Pratchett?
Innsendt av: Kroppus

We swore we would never do it again, but the last time terry and I saw each other we spent the evening talking about Crowley and Aziraphale. So who knows?

Neil
 

Technique

I just wondered if you use a different kind of writing technique when you write for cartoons than when you write a novel. Do you write in frames or anything like that, or do you leave the graphics to the cartoonist?
Innsendt av: Kristian Digre

I write scripts, a bit like film scripts but normally (not always) describing things frame by frame.

Neil
 

Thanks!

I wrte fantasy my self (www.phenomena.no) the most sold norwegian fantasy litterature.
I discovered you through Dave McKean whom I admire very mutch (I work as an grapic designer as well) and then found you and your wonderful writing, Mr.Punch and Coraline my favorite.
Funny though I detected Tori Amos through you again.
Thanks for all inspiration :-)
If it werent for you and Dave McKean I would never have written fantasy :-)
Innsendt av: Ruben Eliassen

That's very wonderful, Ruben.

That Dave McKean is certainly a wonder...

Neil
 

Is it you in disguise?

Read all of your novels; love everyone of them!

Most of your heroes (if one might call them that) seem to be improbable heroes; they start out with no real ambitions but end up finding courage way beyond what seems possible, while still being relatively normal people. Is this some kind of self-image, a way you see yourself; a normal person who want's to do good in the world and settle for simple things? Please use a sentence or two to explain. Thanks :o)

Please never loose your great sense of humor, your somewhet naive and tender view of love or your immense fantasy!
Innsendt av: JA

I'm not sure if it's how I see myself, but it's definitely how I see the world. I'd hate to start a story about someone who set out to be a hero...

Neil
 

Thank you

Hi Neil.
not as much a question as a well-deserved tooting of your horn, this:

When I read 'American Gods' I was glued to the book for four days straight. And when I had finished it, I found myself more shook up than any other book had ever left me - it was really a pivotal experience.
After sitting on my shelf for a few years, my copy is now ready to be passed on to its next owner; a good friend whom I hope and think will love, appreciate and get captivated by it just the way I did myself.

I've pre-ordered the Norwegian edition of "Endless Nights", and am looking tremendously forward to spending some long autumn nights immersed in yet another of your fantastic universes.

One word should cover it all: Thanks.
Innsendt av: j-

You're welcome.

Neil
 

The high cost of living

Dear Gaiman, the author above authors!

I once read that Death: the high cost of living would become a film, is it true? If so, when will we be able to see it?
And what about Coraline?

<3
Innsendt av: iris

It's a slow process sometimes to get something made into a film. Death is still progressing, though.

Neil
 

Coraline

Coraline's was publiched in norway as a novel for children/young adults. Do you se it as that yourself? I really thought Coraline was a brilliant novel, andf i'm 32, and a published writer myself. (God, I really hate these labels ...) Anyway, who was your 'ideal reader' while writing Coraline?
Innsendt av: Heine T. Bakkeid

I wish you could simply publish something as a "book" and not worry about classifying it. In the US they've now done an adult edition of Coraline, for people like you...

And I think my idea reader was me. It normally is.

Neil
 

alice cooper

Hi
Any plans to join up with the coop again anytime soon?
Innsendt av: vidar

I think he's doing stripped down stuff currently that doesn't need a storyteller. But I'd work with him if ever he asked. He's a good man.

Neil
 

Hello

Will there be anymore books in the Sandman series?
I love your work!
Coraline was pshychedelic and I really enjoyed it.
Innsendt av: Dennis Eriksem

I don't know. 2009 is Sandman's 20th anniversary, and we shall see.

Neil
 

The Most Beautiful Animal in the World

The last time you blamed your publishers for the lack of Giraffes in your series. Any progress on that area now?
Innsendt av: Bolleh

I'm working on it. There might be a giraffe in BLUEBERRY GIRL, the book that Charles Vess is illustrating. I'll ask him.

Neil
 

Available?

Are you married?
Innsendt av: Olea

Yes.

Neil
 

The Alderman

Dear Gaiman,
I am still into the Sandman universe, so I hope you accept a question concerning the book "Brief Lives". Usually I tend to get annoyed by inaccuracies in the use of history/religious history in representations of Sámi culture and old religion in litterature/graphic novels, but your interpreation is still a positive eception of the rule. I Always wondered what kind of research you did, or how you became inspired to describe the Leibolbmái (Alderman)?
Innsendt av: Jørn E. Henriksen, Tromsø

I love different cultures. He came from old books, and from my imagination. Since I wrote that I've been to Norway and Sweden and Finland many times, and was relieved that nobody thought I'd got it too badly wrong.

Neil
 

Inspiration

What do you read yourself these days?
Any new graphic novels you like in particular?
Innsendt av: Perle

My favourite recent graphic novel was Eddie Campbell's "The Fate of the Artist"

Neil
 

First off - I love your books, and your illustrated stories are wonderful. There's nothing quite like Sandman, The wolves in the walls, or Mirror Mask.
Is there any plans of making a new movie based on one of your books? The MirrorMask was absolutely fantastic, it's amazing how that movie turned out!
Innsendt av: Sandra

I'm glad you liked MirrorMask, although I think the credit for that one goes to Dave McKean.

STARDUST has been filmed, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro, and they are cutting it right now. It will come out in 2007. And I wrote a script for BEOWULF, with Roger Avary.

Neil
 

Coroline

I read the book Coroline for my daughter when she was 9, and what struck me is that that book really could work as a perfect horrormovie for childern! Would that ever happen? And do plan on writing more childerensbook? My daughter wishes to say thanks for a great creepy feeling:)
Innsendt av: Line

It is being made as a film by Hnry Selick -- stop motion, like his films The Nightmare Before Christmas and James and the Giant Peach.

I'm working on a book called THE GRAVEYARD BOOK right now.

Neil
 

Good Omens

Hi I really love your work, and is allways pleased to hear about new stuff coming out.

About the book Good Omen that you did with Terry Pratchett; There was quit a lot of talk about this book hitting the silver screen. What happened there?
Innsendt av: Tommy

Terry Gilliam is still trying to raise the funding to make it. If you have $63,000,000 not doing anything that you'd be happy to give him to make it, please let him know.

Neil
 

Research for American Gods?

I'm currently reading American Gods, so far a a really good book. And I was wondering, how did you go about doing research on all these old and almost forgotten gods and mythologies?
Innsendt av: Knut

A lifetime of reading books with words like MYTHS and TALES in the title, really.

Neil
 

Sandman...

Hey there.

I would just like to thank you for all the hours I have spent, and will spend in the future reading the Sandman comics. I'm not too much of a book reader, but I love the comics. I remember the first time I opened my first Sandman book, Preludes... and I wasn't too happy with the drawings, a little tad dissapointed, but what happened was that after about 2 pages I was so into the story that I sat with at the end of the book in what seemed 2 seconds. I got swept away into that story in the same manner as I was when I was a kid in the late 70's reading Donald Duck. The whole story was kind of breathing into me, and I was hooked. It didn't take me more than a few pages to love the drawings too.

Give me more, and I will read with hunger, don't, and I'll just read up the old stuff over and over again, cause I simply love it!

Now I'll shut up...

Innsendt av: Mr.Morfeus

You're welcome. In the new ABSLUTE SANDMAN we recolour the artwork from those first stories and they look infinitely better than they did. Things that made little sense now look terrific.

Neil
 

Batman

Hi Neil,

Did the movie "MirrorMask" turn out quite as you had hoped? I'm sorry to say that even though I found it visually stunning, eerie and generally evocative - the depth of the story left much to be desired. The characters were somewhat 2-dimensional. In the whole of it, it was interesteing, but not that engaging.
Innsendt av: Terje Mørk

I liked it, but it was very much Dave McKean's film all the way -- his story, his way of telling the story. I wouldn't have made it like that, but then, if I have made it it wouldn't have had the amazing visuals or have come in at 4 million dollars, which was the budget. I'm sure that Dave's next film will be more about people.
 

Spinn-off

I must say, most of your work is WERY good!
Are you happy with the spinn-off's and continuation of your work, by other writers? Stuff like "Lusifer" and "Hellblazer"? Do you often assist the writers of these graphic novels?
Innsendt av: Jon Bråtveit

Some of it I like, some I don't. I'm often a "consultant" which means I see things, sometimes, but nobody has to listen to what I say.But it's fun to see things gain a life of their own -- I thought Licifer was particularly well done.

Neil